The Old Sailors Ark has had the wind taken out of its sails and is having to close its doors marking the end of a 70 year history in the centre of Edinburgh.

Since 1936 the Ark has been providing hot food, clothing, laundry and refuge for the destitute and in recent years its offered support and advice for the cities homeless. Around 80 homeless people a day currently visit the café; a one of a kind service and the original heart of the Ark, but as of 12pm on 29th June they will have to find somewhere else to go for food, shelter and, just as importantly, socialising.

But we don’t want that. We don’t want 80 people left with nowhere to go, we don’t want to close a service that previously catered for 10000 hot meals a week and we don’t want to end 70 years of community spirit. So we are going to save the Ark from sinking and drop that anchor by looking to reopen in the future. We are asking for those who don’t want to see this important part of Edinburgh close and the network of people who have been touched by the café at some point in their life for their help and support.

For just £3.50 you will be buying a meal ticket that provides a homeless person with a hot meal. We are asking people to donate to our ‘Save the Ark’ campaign so we can reopen the café that has been a part of all walks of life from down on their luck sailors, to single mothers to the older well known homeless faces around Edinburgh.

If you would like to know other ways you can help our campaign or if you visited the Ark as a child or off a visiting ship, or would simply like to share your happy memories of the place then please contact us at savetheark@streetwork.org.uk or telephone 0131 4762023