Tag Archives: Poole

Open Day Cancelled

 
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Routes to Roots is extremely sorry to cancel our planned open afternoon on 15 March to celebrate our acquisition of the former Hill Street Baptist Church. In light of the highly infectious nature of Coronavirus and anticipated advice to avoid large gatherings, we believe we must play our part by not holding an event, which may, however minimal the risk, help spread the virus. In particular, we are concerned about our clients, the homeless and formerly homeless, who are particularly vulnerable members of our community but also take this step to protect our volunteers, supporters and their families.

We will keep a close eye on the situation and re-schedule as soon as we can.

And now the good news: We are pressing ahead, with the help of a pro bono local architect, with building plans and estimates, and busily seeking grants and donations to fund the work which will make the building fit for purpose. We are extremely appreciative of the support we have so far received, which means we can make a start, but there’s still a long way to go and all contributions will be gratefully received. We still hope that we can move into the building this Autumn in time for winter. This WILL become the centre for all help for the homeless and vulnerably housed in Poole.

If you would like to look round the building as an individual or talk to us about our plans, we would love to hear from you. We want everyone to keep on talking about this great new development.


Our Own Building – At Last

 
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We are delighted to announce that we are well on our way to achieving our dream of establishing a hub for the homeless and vulnerably housed in Poole. 

The charity has purchased the former Hill Street Baptist Church, the Poole town centre building that housed R2R’s first drop-in sessions.

A key action over the last few years has been for R2R to get on a sound financial footing so we could explore every opportunity to find our own space in order to expand our services. We have been able to fund the purchase of the church from our own funds, a donation from Talbot Village Trust and a grant from Help the Homeless. 

Substantial refurbishment is needed to make the premises fit for purpose, before we can move in, hopefully by September 2020. R2R is seeking financial support for essential renovations, which will include more efficient heating, a kitchen, toilets, showers and laundry facilities.

After moving to Hill Street, in the short-term R2R will maintain our existing services and add a weekly Sunday lunch. Looking further ahead, as funding and volunteer support permit, we aim to be open seven days a week and increase the outreach services offered to include financial advice, training and other opportunities to help clients move back into the community – to become a one-stop place of change.

Revd Pat Southgate, Chair and Founder of R2R says: “I am really proud of what all our volunteers and supporters have enabled us to achieve over the years. This is the result of all their faith in us and is a long-held dream come true. We are very grateful to Skinner Street URC for welcoming us for so many years and making us a part of their community. While very excited, this is a tremendous commitment for the charity and we will need all the support that Poole churches, organisations, businesses and individuals can continue to give us to make Hill Street Baptist Church a real Place of Change in Poole.”

Russell Lucas-Rowe, Trustee at Talbot Village Trust, says: “We are very pleased to have helped Routes to Roots expand their reach and services. The work they have been doing helping the rough sleepers for the last 20 years is very valuable to this community. We hope that, thanks to the funding, they will be able to help many more around Poole.”

The Patron of the charity, the Rt Revd Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne comments: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Routes to Roots to take their work to another level and affirms the commitment of the charity in its aims to alleviate homelessness. Further financial help is needed now to fulfil our vision. Please consider giving generously, knowing that every gift will give hope to those most in need of it.”

Big Breakfast at The Spire

 
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In its tenth year, R2R’s Big Breakfast for rough sleepers has moved toThe Spire community cafe on Poole High Street for the winter months of 2019-20. Deborah Clooney and Debbie Jones at The Fisherman Caféhave provided this vitally important service since 2010. The two ladies have now retired and we are grateful to them for all their support to the guys and to The Spire for stepping in. 

Last year the provision ran from November 2018 to March 2019 and was accessed by 34 individuals. 

In terms of equipping those sleeping outdoors to cope with the day ahead, this breakfast meal is absolutely vital. It is generally accepted that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it certainly makes it much more likely that the guys and girls will be in a better state to deal with appointments with various agencies such as the Job Centre, DWP, doctors, court appearances, etc.

When asked why it was important to have a cooked breakfast, one of our clients said: “Five nights out of seven there is only cold food available – it gives you one hot meal a day at least – some nights can be rough and it’s good to get camaraderie back – it does lift you after a crap night.” Another has commented that knowing he’s going to get a good meal each morning has meant he has not been thieving to get food.

Following on from the last three years, we will again confine the breakfast provision to the four days when we do not have afternoon drop-ins, to encourage more rough sleepers to engage with those who can help them at the drop-ins. This has proved to be very effective.

If you would like to support this service, please donate through the website or contact the R2R office.

SWEP Triggered in Poole

 
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Bitterly cold weather triggered SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Provision) at the start of the New Year in Poole. St Mungo’s rough sleeper team provided shelter for 5 or 6 homeless people on 2 January 2019, for the first time at Skinner Street URC Hall instead of the less accessible out of town accommodation. Hot food was not available so Routes to Roots left packed lunches for them all for Wednesday and Thursday. As Friday night is an R2R drop-in evening, hot food was provided as usual. As temperatures rose above zero on week commencing 7 January, the rough sleeper team has had to deactivate SWEP until further notice.

Homeless People’s Deaths ‘up 24%’ Over Five Years

 
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Almost 600 homeless people died in England and Wales last year, according to official figures published for the first time. The figure represents a rise of 24% over five years, according to the Office for National Statistics.
These are the first official estimates of the number of deaths of homeless people, which show 84% of those who died were men.
Charities say the numbers confirm what they are seeing locally.
The ONS figures show that there were 482 deaths among homeless people in 2013, rising to 597 in 2017. A detailed breakdown shows:
• more than half of the deaths were because of drug poisoning, liver disease or suicide
• deaths increased throughout England but fell in Wales
• London and north-west England had the highest proportion of deaths
• the average age of death was 44 for men and 42 for women, compared with 76 for men and 81 for women among the rest of the population

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46613609

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsofhomelesspeopleinenglandandwales/2013to2017

Coffee for Coats

 
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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/

From Nazareth to Bethlehem

 
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Rev Lucy Holt (Rector of St James’ Poole, Rural Dean & Routes to Roots’ Trustee) successfully completed the last 5km of this momentous endeavour on 22 December 2018. Her aim was to raise awareness and money for the R2R Christmas appeal. She ran a total of 55km in Poole over Advent (11 x 5km) to mark the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

 

Nationwide Joins Forces with St Mungo’s

 
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In October Nationwide Building Society launched a practical partnership with St Mungo’s aimed at providing a consistent and compassionate response to people rough sleeping on the high street – and is urging other businesses to follow suit. The Society is the leading sponsor and member of HomelessWise, a community of high street member organisations managed by St Mungo’s.
The HomelessWise initiative will provide online and offline expertise and resources to help staff in Nationwide branches to respond in practical and meaningful ways to those who are rough sleeping. This includes appropriate referrals to StreetLink – an app and weblink designed to alert local authorities to people sleeping rough in England and Wales – as well as awareness-raising for other homelessness services and local support groups. In addition, St Mungo’s has developed specialist training for Nationwide staff members, to give them the confidence to provide the right response to those sleeping rough and needing help.
Businesses interested in HomelessWise, can find out more at:
http://www.mungos.org/homelesswise

London Bridge Trek

 
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Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water*
Our patron, The Right Reverend Karen Gorham, successfully completed this 24k walk across 16 iconic London bridges in September, raising £1260 for Routes to Roots. “As Bishop of Sherborne in Dorset with an area of oversight which covers Poole I am proud to be Patron of Routes to Roots – a fantastic homeless charity making a real difference to the lives of those who find themselves homeless.
“Over the course of the day we walked into London ending at Southwark Bridge. Each bridge crossing reminded us of the bridges which need to be crossed to bring dignity and hope to the homeless.”

* Simon & Garfunkel
…When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you (ooo)
I’ll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down…

New Shower for the Homeless

 
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Our new shower has been installed and is now in use by clients during drop-in hours. Previously their only access to a shower had been once a week at the Salvation Army, so this new facility is a real godsend. One client commented that he felt like a ‘new man’ and he promptly took advantage of an opportunity to have his hair cut as well. Many thanks to Skinner Street URC for allowing us to install the shower in their hall and to The Screwfix Foundation and Valentine Charitable Trust who provided all the money. Tom Belmont, Manager of Screwfix at Creekmoor, presented Pat and Susan with a cheque for £1000 and took a look at how we have spent Screwfix’s money.

Pics by Samantha Cook Photography, 4th June 2018. The Screwfix Foundation donation to Routes to Roots (Poole), Skinner Street URC, Poole, Dorset BH15 1RQ, towards a new shower in the church hall, for use by rough sleepers during drop-in hours. Pic: Screwfix Poole-Creekmoor Store Manager, Tom Belmont, presents cheque to the R2R Team: (right) Chair and Founder Trustee, Revd Pat Southgate, (left) Susan Gittins, Volunteer and R2R Publicity and Fundraising.