Tag Archives: homeless

 
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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.

 
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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.

 
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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.”

 
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Andy Mason has been appointed as our new Drop-in Manager and Volunteer Co-ordinator, with effect from 21 September 2020. Andy recently returned to Poole after he trained to be a vicar and worked in parishes in Salisbury and Bristol. He is currently taking a bit of a break while working part-time with us and doing some work in schools with the PACE Trust. Andy says: “I am really excited about joining the team at Routes to Roots. I am passionate about Christians not just ‘talking the talk’ but also ‘walking the walk’ too – my favourite passage in the Bible is Matthew 25 when Jesus says what we did/didn’t do for the hungry/thirsty/cold/vulnerable we did/didn’t do it him, which I find both a challenge and an encouragement!


 
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Just over two years after completing the purchase of the old Baptist Church on Hill Street, all R2R operations will be based at our newly renovated Genesis Centre from 21st March. We are holding a celebration at the Centre on 20 March to mark our 20 years of operation as a charity and the completion of the first stages of the refurbishment. During the following week we will move ourselves and our clients across town to our new home. Our new operating hours will initially be from 12:00 am to 2:30 pm, Monday – Friday. It is our intention to open longer hours as we recruit more volunteers.

We Are With You, who provide addiction support, will attend our Drop Ins on both Mondays and Thursdays between 1:00 pm and 2:00pm. Chiropody appointments will be offered by Jenny Fowler from Friday 25th March and occur on a monthly basis. In the near future, we will also regularly be joined by partners from St Mungo’s, Victim Support and both Mental and Physical Health Support services.

A generous family in Coventry has donated an entire kitchen to us.
Consulting room for outreach services under construction in the small hall with storage area above, October 2021
Baptistery surround reinstalled in main hall, October 2021
Main Hall, October 2021
Members of the Rotary Club of Poole Bay visit Genesis Centre.

In May 2021 The Clothworkers’ Foundation confirmed that they have awarded us a grant of £35,000 towards the completion of the phase 1 work, which will allow our move-in. The Foundation was set up in 1977 to be the primary vehicle of charitable giving for The Clothworkers’ Company. Since then, they have awarded capital grants of more than £152 million. Today, their primary aim is to improve the lives of people and communities, particularly those facing disadvantage, deprivation and/or discrimination. 

Sean Cooper, (second from right), owner of Weyfish, Hatch on the Harbour and Catch, all based at Weymouth’s historic old fish market, has donated all the panelling we need to reinstate the dado panelling around the main hall. 
Sean commented: “Homelessness is an issue very close to my heart. My mum with 4 young children found herself homeless when I was an infant, and I remember distinctly the kindness and goodwill of friends in providing a roof over our head. I have had the pleasure to know and work with Ken Morgan, the architect who is giving his time to this project, for a number of years and when an opportunity arose to be able to help Ken and Routes to Roots I was only to happy to do so.”

Build-up starts. After all the internal demolition, we have reached the stage of reconfiguring the internal layout. The scaffolding has been taken down and ceiling and lights finished with one more stained glass window to be re-installed. We have decided on an air source heat pump to provide underfloor heating and gas-fired boiler for hot water and are in the process of selecting contractors.

Clients will get online at Hill Street. Andy and Sara Powell at Poole IT are generously donating our IT equipment for free. They will also set up our broadband, wifi, telephone and internet café for clients, and give us on-going support. This new service will be a game-changer for our clients’ employment prospects and we are very grateful to them. Andy says: “Routes to Roots is an amazing opportunity for local business to give support at the very heart of community, We all see people in less fortunate positions that ourselves; therefore to help in a meaningful way by applying our professional skills is the least we can do. Having computers with safeguarding installed, and a safe internet connection will help connect the people in need with resources only available online.”

Geoffrey Morgan, a local organist and Organs Adviser to the United Reformed Church, contacted us to express interest in salvaging some of the pipework and electric blower from the Hill Street organ for use in other organs. We were delighted to accommodate his request, since the organ had been unusable for many years following a fire. Geoffrey also informed us that the organ case dates from the nineteenth century, had previously been installed in the former St. Paul’s Church in Poole, and hence is of historic interest to the Borough of Poole. Geoffrey offered his time to help with the dismantling of the organ and cleaned the console and brass plaque – we could not have managed such a successful dismantling without his help. We are keeping the front of the organ case, which is now at the back of the organ loft, fixed to the wall, so it can be appreciated by everyone who visits the building.

Our latest pro bono professional stonemason Sarah Klopper works at Salisbury Cathedral. As part of our Listed Building consent we are required to safeguard features of special architectural and historic interest, and Sarah will repair and relocate the memorial stones and carved stone signage currently located in the alleyway.Sarah says: “I’m looking forward to working on this project. There are so many buildings like this in the UK that are just crying out to be lovingly restored and what better way to do that than to support the homeless community.”

Work started in September and all the internal demolition is now complete: scaffolding is up; the suspended ceiling is down; the pews are out; and wiring for the lighting is in.We have received two further grants to help with our refurbishment from The Beatrice Laing Trust and JP Morgan.

Amanda Brint-Smee of Certa Services in Poole has joined our team of pro bono professionals. Amanda’s involvement in this project is to help guide the management team through the health and safety requirements under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. She will be there to ensure that the highest possible level of health and safety is provided to ensure that all workers, staff and visitors are kept safe during this development project. She will be on hand to provide documentation and advice wherever necessary. Amanda says: “The project is a very exciting one and the building that is to be used is ideally located, with the space helping to provide more help to people that are homeless or find themselves in vulnerable positions.”

Pro Bono Lighting Designer

Sherborne-based lighting designer John Bullock has offered his services free following an introduction by our architect 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.”

Planning permission and listed building consent has been granted by BCP Council.

In July we heard that we are to receive a grant for £5000 from the Salisbury Diocesan Social Welfare Fund and two cheques arrived for £1000 from individual supporters. We are grateful for this support.

Pro Bono Surveyor

In June MC Plan and Site Services offered to do the building control for our building pro bono! Helen Cook says: “We are delighted to support your project in regards to a building control application at no cost to the charity. As a company we are very passionate about supporting local charities such as yourselves and will assign a surveyor to follow the project through from beginning to end. For us in Poole this is also something very close to our hearts, an extremely valuable cause in what your charity is trying to do for homelessness in Poole.”

Furniture and Office Equipment Donated

Albion Language Tour Company has donated office furniture and equipment including a full-size Xerox copier with scanner, folder and staple functions, 12 tables, some 40 chairs, filing cabinets and shelving. Manager Janet Wright says: “As we cannot accept our German students in the current crisis, we have given up our premises in favour of operating from home. We are happy to donate everything to your wonderful charity.”

Pro Bono Architect

Words from our pro bono architect Ken Morgan RIBA: “Thanks for inviting me to get involved with R2R in converting the Hill Street Chapel as a base/hub for Poole’s homeless community. It is an extremely worthwhile cause and one in which I have some personal interest.”

Pews to be Removed

Our new home is Grade 2 listed but in May we received permission to remove the pews, which has sparked lots of local interest. A local organist has also been in touch to ask for any parts of the old organ which he may be able to put to good use elsewhere. A request we are happy to grant.

 
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From Wednesday 1 July R2R will re-open its drop-ins at Skinner Street URC to offer take-away food for rough sleepers only. With the Council’s emergency accommodation provision coming to an end and more rough sleepers being found on the streets, we believe re-starting this provision is vital. We plan to open between 1.30pm and 2.30pm every weekday. At this stage, we cannot allow clients inside the hall, in line with current rules governing cafes, so the toilets and shower will remain closed.

 
 
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POOLE FOOD BANK is struggling to meet the increased demand for food at this challenging time. Following recent discussions with the Food Bank, Routes to Roots has decided to donate to them all the money we would have spent on food for our drop-ins, if we had been able to remain open, over the last few weeks. At a time when we are unable to feed the hungry ourselves, we feel it is vital that we help our partner agencies, who are still able to get food to those in need, including many of our vulnerably housed clients. We welcome this opportunity to be able to give something back, to help the Food Bank feed those, who may only be a step away from being homeless themselves. 

Over the years, so many of you have helped us with your donations of food. During this crisis we ask that you help the Food Bank who would welcome tinned meat, potatoes, rice pudding and fruit, long grain rice, pasta sauce, coffee, UHT milk. 

Any donations can be dropped at the Food Bank, Longfleet URC, Longfleet Rd, (next to the petrol station), on weekdays, 9.30 am – 12 noon. 


 
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Following our acquisition of the former Hill Street Baptist Church, we have embarked on an extensive refurbishment programme to convert the historic building into a permanent base for the town’s homeless and vulnerably housed.  Hailed as ‘A Place for Change’, the Hill Street outreach facility is being fully renovated .

The aim of this important new outreach facility is to help people in Poole who are without permanent accommodation achieve lasting positive change in their lives. Facilities such as showers, toilets, a laundry, hot food, clothing and sleeping bags will be provided in addition to crucial access to outreach workers for addiction and mental health support, nurses, chiropodists, housing and benefit advisors.

“Thanks to some extremely generous grants and fundraising support from our volunteers, local schools, companies and churches, we have made a fantastic start towards reaching our target of £150,000, which means we are all set to start working on this exciting project,” commented Reverend Southgate. “Our first task will be to remove and sell the beautiful antique pitch pine pews to make a central space where clients can relax, feel safe and talk in confidence to outreach teams. We are hoping to raise in the region of £3000 from the sale of the pews, which would help fund the cost of installing our all-important shower facilities.” 

Routes to Roots was recently awarded a grant of £5,000 from The Haddon Trust, a charity that specialises in providing relief for those in poverty and without permanent accommodation. The grant will help fund a new kitchen and the associated white goods and equipment needed to cater for up to 50 clients. 

Local support from Poole’s residents and business community has been very positive and the charity has received full backing for the project from Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill, who understands the positive impact that the hub will have both on the vulnerable people being helped and the local community. Under current plans, the Hill Street renovations are due to be completed by late Autumn 2020, subject to the ongoing restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus crisis.

 
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Many thanks to the customers and staff of Banana Wharf on Poole Quay for the winter jackets they brought in to R2R for our clients at the beginning of January. From 1st to 17th December 2018 Banana Wharf bar and restaurant invited people to donate a coat to the Homeless through R2R. Everyone who brought a coat to them got a free cup of coffee.

https://bananawharf.co.uk/