Routes to Roots became a registered charity in 2002, but Christian action on homelessness in Poole really began long before that.
Formal action began with one church in Poole, the Vineyard Church, which had the vision to meet the needs of homeless people where they are, on the streets. They set up the first soup kitchen in Vanguard Street. Gradually other churches became inspired to the do the same, until on five nights a week members of churches from all over Poole are providing hot drinks, soup, rolls, and perhaps most important of all, a listening ear.
In 2000, R2R began to look for somewhere that we could invite the homeless into, to have a little bit of respite from their chaotic lives on the street and a place where we could begin to meet some of their most basic needs. Thanks to Hill Street Baptist Church and, later, Skinner Street United Reformed Church who offered their premises for Drops-Ins, R2R was able to do just that, and, as volunteers sat and talked with the rough sleepers and listened to their stories, they were no longer strangers to us.
As R2R began to do more for the homeless we began to understand what their needs were and how much more we needed to do in order to meet those needs. Realising that we would need to raise money in order to meet these needs, we became a registered Charity in 2002.
As an organisation, we were frustrated that there was no continuity work with the rough sleepers between the four Drop-In sessions. In 2003, with the support of the Poole Drug Action Team, R2R was able to employ a part-time Outreach Worker to work with the rough sleepers. This first Outreach Worker collected statistics for the Drug Outreach Team and signposted the rough sleepers to the relevant agencies that they needed to engage with.
This work proved successful and by 2005 R2R was able to raise the funds to employ a full-time Outreach Worker. This allowed R2R to develop a more proactive and assertive outreach role. After that our work evolved around continuing to meet the needs of the rough sleepers as we become aware of them.
In 2007, Routes to Roots began employing a part-time Administrator to support the Trustees, Executive Committee and the Outreach Worker in implementing our vision.
At the same time, Routes to Roots became concerned about the importance of following up with rough sleepers after they are housed.
The Poole Outreach and Support Team was formed in partnership with Bournemouth Churches Housing Association. This team, of an Outreach Worker from each organisation, searched the highways and byways for the hidden homeless to make sure they were safe and knew where to access help and support. This partnership achieved considerable success in getting people off the streets and was widely acclaimed for its good practice: 28 rough sleepers were housed in 2011 and a further seven in the first quarter of 2012. From April 2014 Poole and Bournemouth Borough Councils jointly contracted with another organisation to deliver these early morning outreach services across the whole conurbation. However, R2R continues to provide a hot breakfast for rough sleepers in winter through The Fisherman Café on Poole Quay, a vital service that we established in 2010.
The assignment of early morning outreach to another organisation freed R2R to concentrate on actions that will promote the reintegration of rough sleepers, vulnerably housed people and the newly homed into society by providing more services at the afternoon drop-ins such as an EDAS outreach clinic, housing advice and health sessions. This is something we had wanted to do for some time but been unable to fully develop because of our early morning outreach commitments.
In 2014 R2R centralised all its Drop-In and office activities at Skinner Street URC and became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
In 2015, thanks to the support of a national Christian social enterprise, Routes to Roots became able to offer supported accommodation to three of Poole’s rough sleepers. Green Pastures bought a maisonette, which houses three R2R clients. They each have their own bedroom and share bathroom, kitchen and living space. Routes to Roots works closely with them to support them so they can move into independent accommodation, and more rough sleepers can take their places.
In 2018 Routes to Roots was able to extend our drop-in services with a new drop-in on Wednesday afternoons and a fortnightly one, managed by local churches, on Sunday lunchtimes. We also extended the opening hours of the three afternoon drop-ins so the guys can come in at 12.00 for a hot drink and to read the papers in the warmth. This is an excellent start on meeting our ambition to establish a homeless hub in Poole.
The extended opening hours also enabled the guys to make full use of a shower installed at Skinner Street in April 2018.
Started in September 2018, the new Wednesday drop-in became a focus for wellness outreach activities with attendance by a CMHT (Community Mental Health Team) Nurse, Homeless Health Nurse, EDAS (Essential Drugs and Alcohol Services) and referrals to SMART (Substance Misuse Assessment and Referral Team). St Mungo’s rough sleeper outreach team attend on Mondays and Poole Housing Advisers on Thursdays.
Poole’s first building solely dedicated to helping the town’s homeless and vulnerably housed opened its doors on 21 March 2022. Genesis Centre on Hill Street is destined to become the hub for all support and help available locally from charities, churches and the local authorities – a one-stop place of change.
Routes to Roots purchased the building outright in February 2020 – just in time for the country’s first lockdown. Despite this, the charity carried on with its plans for the complete restoration and refurbishment of the Grade II listed building. This was a major undertaking, which would have been impossible without the tremendous support shown both locally and nationally. Under the pro bono guidance of architect Ken Morgan, nine additional local professionals gave their time and expertise pro bono. Over the two years since the purchase, R2R received nearly £212,000 in grants from 18 foundations and trusts. At the move-in the works have cost nearly £270,000. Other money came from local businesses, churches, schools and individuals.
The building is wholly owned and operated by Routes to Roots, which this month also celebrates its 20thanniversary.
There is still work to be carried out on the second hall and to the outside of the building and fundraising is continuing to pay for this. However, this does not impact its ability to run drop-ins and welcome back outreach partnersto provide addiction, mental and physical health support, chiropody, housing and benefit advice. Shower and laundry facilities are available and there are computers for clients’ use.
We have come a long way since that first Soup-Run provided by the Vineyard Church, but we do not forget our roots are in the one true Vine, whose compassionate love for the poor is our inspiration.