We are continuing to run indoor drop-ins on weekday lunchtimes and are seeing anything from 8 to 16 clients each day. In June EDAS (Essential Drugs and Alcohol Services) re-started their outreach operation with us and we are looking forward to the re-start of more services in the coming weeks. St Mungo’s reports that they have 184 people in emergency accommodation in the BCP area and that thankfully the Council has no plans to end this provision. During this current crisis they have been able to move literally hundreds into long-term accommodation.
41 Purbeck artists and craftspeople contributed over 300 Lots for the Art4Action Christmas auction. Organised by the publishers of Wareham Tower Chimes, with the backing of Wareham Town Council, the money raised will be split between the artists, Routes to Roots and St Martin in the Walls Church in Wareham, resulting in a donation of £750 to R2R. The organisers are now in the process of creating a continuous fundraising Art4Action virtual art and craft market, and intend for Routes to Roots to be the first recipient. R2R volunteer Susan receives the cheque from publisher Malcolm Lewis at The Creative Gallery in Wareham.
Over the last year at Routes to Roots, we have been working very hard to convert 104 Hill Street, a former Baptist church, into a centre for help for the homeless of Poole. Work is going really well, but we need to raise more funds in order to design and install a suitable heating system. This is the goal of our Christmas Appeal. £25,000 will ensure our heating is not only fit for purpose but low carbon, and we need your help to reach that target. Over £15,000 raised by mid February. Please spread the word and help us spread some warmth by donating.
The High Sherriff of Dorset, GeorgeStreatfeild visited our future permanent support facility for Poole’s homeless in October.
We were delighted to play host to Dorset High Sherriff, George Streatfeild and his wife Amanda, showing them the transformation of the former Baptist Church. Mr and Mrs Streatfeild were given a tour of the building where the project’s architect Ken Mason and project manager, R2R Trustee, Kate Mellor talked through the charity’s ambitious plans for the listed building.
As reigning High Sherriff for Dorset, Mr Streatfeild was made aware of the support that Routes to Roots provides to Poole’s homeless by our Patron, The Right Reverend Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne and was eager to witness first-hand what was happening at the new facility and learn about the charity’s future ambitions.
“It is awe-inspiring and quite humbling to hear Pat’s passion and her determination to transform a rundown building into somewhere safe, warm and welcoming to so many who are struggling in today’s society – and not just because of Covid-19,” said Mr Streatfeild. “She has created an amazing team of volunteers to support her vision and make sure it happens; I cannot wait to see the completed work.”
I hope you are keeping well during these extraordinary times.
I am delighted to welcome you to our first e-Newsletter which will provide regular updates on all the good things that Routes to Roots is doing for Poole’s vulnerably housed. The newsletter also gives us an opportunity to acknowledge and thank all the wonderful organisations and individuals who have provided us with their time, donations and grants, without which we could not exist.
We are blessed to have a dedicated team of volunteers and Trustees who tirelessly give their time and passion to make sure we achieve our long-term vision.
As many of you will know, work has now started on the renovation of our dedicated new drop-in facility in Hill Street. At Routes to Roots, we are very excited about the prospect of having a permanent and exclusive outreach centre for the very first time! We look forward to updating you on the progress of the work as we work towards opening.
I really hope you enjoy reading our first issue and we look forward to sharing all the exciting developments of our Hill Street renovations as they progress.
As the council’s Covid-19 emergency accommodation provision wound down and more rough sleepers started taking to the streets again, our drop-in sessions at the Skinner Street United Reformed Church re-opened on 1stJuly after more than three months of closure due to the pandemic.
The drop-ins are vital in providing our clients with regular nourishment and outreach from our experienced team of volunteers. In July we welcomed back a total of 45 clients and served 133 takeaway lunches.
The sessions run every weekday between 1.30 and 2.30. Due to government guidelines, we are currently only able to serve take-away lunches through a hatch in the main hall. Showers and toilets remain closed and we will keep you updated as this changes.
We would like to say a huge thank you to our local Asda and their Community Champion Rona for donating some much-needed suntan lotion, food and water for our rough sleeping clients.
Our Hill Street project management team have drawn up some exciting and ambitious plans to transform the former Baptist Church into a special place from which to help Poole’s vulnerably housed achieve lasting positive change in their lives.
We are delighted to announce that we have now received approval for these plans and have been granted Listed Building Consent.
The new layout incorporates important facilities such as showers, toilets and a laundry in addition to dedicated areas where clients will receive 1-1 support from outreach workers for addiction and mental health support and access to nurses, chiropodists and housing and benefit advisors.
The first of our pews at Hill Street have been removed and this is an exciting milestone in the transformation of our building! We still have a few one-ended pews available if you are interested. Ross (pictured) can help remove and restore them. His contact details are available from our office.
Four local professionals have offered their expertise free of charge, making sure that the Hill Street renovation project is completed to the highest of standards.
Architect, Ken Morgan RIBA and co-founder of Dorset based Morgan Carey Architects has been instrumental in the ambitious re-design of the former Baptist church and in drawing up the plans and submitting them for approval. Commenting on his involvement, Ken said, “I am delighted to be part of the team responsible for converting the Hill Street Chapel as a base for Poole’s homeless community. It is an extremely worthwhile cause and one in which I have some personal interest.”
In June, Mark Cook of MC Plan and Site Services offered to do the Hill Street building control on a pro bono basis. “We are very passionate about supporting local charities such as Routes to Roots. As a Poole based business, what your charity is trying to do for homelessness in Poole is something very close to our hearts,” said Mark.
Structural Engineer, Brian Willis of BE Willis Consultant Civil and Structural Engineers has well over 50 years of experience in structural engineering and like Ken and Mark, has generously dedicated his time and expertise to ensure the building is structurally safe to proceed with renovations and will be on hand to inspect the renovation work until it is completed.
Sherborne-based lighting designer John Bullock has offered his services free following an introduction by Ken Morgan. John will not only do the lighting design for us but is also hoping to source good quality fixtures through his industry contacts and the on-line magazine he publishes for the UK lighting industry. John says: “One of the enduring fallacies that we hear constantly is ‘we’re all in this together’, when – of course – we certainly do not all experience life equally. We are NOT all in this together. Initiatives like Routes to Roots help to bridge an inequality gap that we all should be ashamed of and I’m happy to be able to provide my knowledge to the success of this project.”
