About Routes To Roots
Who are we?
Jesus said "I was hungry and YOU fed ME... When YOU did it to the least of these, YOU WERE DOING IT TO ME" Matthew 25:35
Routes To Roots is a charity founded on Christian principles that seeks to inspire, encourage and equip the community of Poole to respond to the needs of homeless people with compassion , and in ways that are creative and liberating.
Routes To Roots Aims
1. to enable homeless people in Poole to find adequate sources of pastoral and spiritual care, as well as pratical provisions.
2. to provide a place of security and warmth where homeless people can find immediate social and spiritual support.
3. to help motivate those who are homeless, enabling those who are homeless, enabling them to believe in themselves and the world around them; and giving them opportunities to take the initiative.
4. to provide the basic necessities for life: food, clothing and toiletries.
5. to help to ascertain and demonstrate the need for a daytime resource centre.
Why is there a need?
On average, around 15 people come for food and drink every evening. The numbers can be as high as 22 and there are a number of individuals in need who come throughout the week for their food and sometimes clothing and toiletries. Everything we provide is supplied by Christians in Poole.
Where do Routes To Roots work?
Two evenings a week Routes To Roots supply hot food and access to clothing etc from an indoor location.
On Tuesdays 7.30 - 9.00pm at Hill Street Baptist Church Hall.
On Fridays from 7.30 - 9.00pm at Skinner Street URC Hall.
Those in need are welcomed and fed with the help and care of local Christians. Our full time outreach Worker is on hand at these Drop-Ins to support those who feel so marginalised.
Outreach Worker
The Routes To Roots full-time outreach worker, Rob Fish operates as an advocate for the homeless people and as a support to the agencies in Poole. There are four main areas;
1) Housing & community needs
2) Benefits and employment
3) Addiction treatment/prevention
(90% of local homeless people suffer an addiction of some kind). Much of the support given involves picking up the pieces after people have failed treatments and persuading them that it is worth carrying on.
4) Medical Care
Rob does a fantastic job working within the community at a grass roots level providing support for people where it is needed most.
Soup Runs
Five nights a week local churches supply hot food and snacks under the Arch near Poole Train Station. Many of the churches meeting this need have been involved with the soup runs for a number of years and see this opportunity as a privilege.
Comments from some of the churchs involved in the Soup Runs include...
Poole Vineyard Church
We started in 1998 with a team of 6 volunteers serving 3 homeless guys. Numbers attending vary from 3-20 and we have 15 volunteers in teams of 4 or 5 who, on a rota basis, prepare and serve food. The homeless guys are very appreciative and we have been asked on several occasions why we would bother to come out on a cold/wet winter's evening to help them. As for us, we genuinely appreciate the opportunity to show God's love in a practical way, to be a listening ear and on occasions pray and be a comfort to those who want it.
St Mary’s Longfleet
St Mary's Longfleet Church has been involved in the Poole soup run for over three years, and operates from under the flyover on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of the month. We have two types of volunteers - those preparing the sandwiches and those attending the run on the evening itself; all are vital to the work being undertaken. The average number of attendees has dropped off recently, with less than 10 attending over the half hour period. However we cater for around 20 as you never can quite tell how many people will come along. The atmosphere is always very friendly with one or two people often just coming for a chat and company. It is an immense privilege to be part of the soup run and to serve both food and friendship on Sunday nights.
Canford Heath United Reformed Church
The Saturday night team consists of 3 churches in and around Poole e.g. Canford Heath URC, Poole Christian Fellowship and St Michael’s Church of England, Hamworthy. We normally work in teams of 4, 2 guys and 2 girls and meet up at Canford Heath URC for gathering up the tables, tinned goods and flasks for soup, coffee, tea etc and also for prayer before going to the bridge. We have found our Lord to be faithful each week, whether we are tired or fresh. He always brings the increase and we feel brighter on our return than when we started! More recently it has been really encouraging to have opportunity to talk and pray with those who welcome it. We thank Rob for all he does helping the guys along the way and into housing. We love sharing “The Good News” with the guys.
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Extra FacilitiesThe Salvation Army in Poole offers the homeless free showers between 10 and 11.30am on Friday mornings at their premises in New Orchard.