Tag Archives: R2R

 
Posted by in News on | , , , , ,

We have set a date for the formal opening of Genesis Centre – 20 March 2022. This is also the 20th anniversary of the formation of the charity and so will be a double celebration. Delays with plumbing work and the knock-on effect on plastering delayed our move. We are, however, definitely on the final lap with all work to be done on the first phase financially covered. This is very much thanks to Talbot Village Trust who have agreed a further grant of £40,000. We are now seeking funding for phase 2 of the work, which will be on a second hall, which we intend as the hub for healthcare activities, possibly a winter shelter and also other activities to help our clients’ wellbeing and employment prospects.

Click here to make a donation for Routes to Roots, making a difference to the lives of Poole’s homeless and vulnerably housed: https://www.routestoroots.org/charity/donations

 
Posted by in Hill Street Project on | , , , , , , ,

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.

 
Posted by in Activities, News on | , , , , ,

Routes to Roots is pleased to let you know that BCP Council’s rough sleeper outreach team, St Mungo’s, has sourced temporary accommodation for Poole’s rough sleepers. Food will be provided, along with medical support and three times daily contact from a BCPSOS worker to check on wellbeing, etc. With effect from Wednesday 25 March, R2R will, therefore, temporarily close our drop-ins. We are confident that our clients will be in good hands over this period and this is the safest way forward for all of us.

A big thank you to our two staff members and all our many volunteers for making it possible to go on providing food for so long. We will not be idle but take this time to continue work on our project to renovate our new building on Hill Street, so that at the end of all this we will have our Place for Change for the Homeless in Poole.

 
Posted by in Activities, News on | , , , , ,


Routes to Roots will keep its five drop-ins open to help rough sleepers for as long as is possible. In order to prioritise the help that we can offer, we will be open only to rough sleepers from Friday 20th March onwards. We realise this may leave those of our clients who are vulnerably housed, although not on the streets, at a disadvantage but with the potential of fewer volunteers available, this was a compromise that had to be made.  

With immediate effect, lunchtime drop-in hours will be from 12.30pm until 2.30pm – subject to review depending upon volunteers and national and local guidance. Clients will be able to eat in the hall as normal. Showers will still be available while the launderette is open to wash the towels.  

From Friday 20th March, evening drop-ins will provide takeaway food only, although the toilets will be available. 

The exact procedure to follow if a client appears to be showing symptoms of COVID-19 is still being finalised across the local authority area. BCP Council has made a property available for rough sleepers who are affected by the virus.  

We provide rough sleepers with vouchers to enable them to have breakfast at The Spire community café on Poole High Street. The café states that it will remain open as long as possible and we are giving out extra breakfast vouchers and will continue this provision beyond April – as long as the Spire can provide the breakfast.

R2R is part of an online meetings group of relevant agencies, including Faithworks, BCP Council, St. Mungo’s, to ensure we keep abreast of all developments.

 
Posted by in Hill Street Project, News on | , , , , , , ,

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.”

 
Posted by in Governance on | , ,

At our AGM on Sunday 7 April 2019 at Skinner Street URC, Poole, the Trustees’ and Financial Reports were given for the year 2017-18. As this AGM took place after the end of FY 2018-19, a report was also made of activities during that fiscal year to bring members up-to-date with a great many service enhancements and the current financial position.

 
Posted by in Uncategorized on | , , , , ,

We were delighted to welcome nearly 80 people to our service at which Bishop Karen Gorman spoke movingly on the increasing problem of homelessness. She recalled how back in the 70s the vision was to eradicate homelessness but with changes in Government policy from the 80s this was still a dream. Bishop Karen spoke of the wonderful work being done in Poole through projects such as Routes to Roots and thanked all the volunteers for the work that they do as if we all did not do the work of Christ who would. The Bishop also spoke of the importance of speaking out and drawing the attention of decision makers to what things are like on the streets of Poole.

P8 HomelessSunday

During the service Kate, one of our Trustees, updated everyone on what is happening at Amos House, our supported accommodation for three former rough sleepers. It is just about a year since they moved in and things are going well.
You can download her report with comments from two of the guys here:
Amos House Update 2017

 
Posted by in Uncategorized on | , , , ,

R2R clients Sid, Michael and David are back at Holton Lee, bringing our allotment back to life after a period of quiet because of illness. The guys have been busy digging over the ground and preparing for seeding and planting. David wants to give back to Routes to Roots because we have been giving to him. Michael says he wants to get fitter and enjoys the digging. Sid has sown a donation of seeds from the Kew Grow Wild project as a border around the edge of the plot. When he did this last year, it proved a very good deterrent to pests.

HL2016_SidHL2016_MichaelDavid2

 
Posted by in Uncategorized on | , , , , ,

Broadstone Players Theatre Company has again invited us to fundraise during their next play which will run from Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st May. For every person who buys a ticket and names Routes to Roots, they will give us a donation of £5. The charity evening is Thursday 19th May but you can also go to the Friday 20th evening, Saturday 21st matinee or evening performances and the donation of £5 per person will still be made.
This year’s play is ‘Gaslight’, the well known thriller set in Victorian times: a costume drama, great suspense, an entertaining evening or afternoon out and, of course, the opportunity to raise money for R2R!
Tickets cost £8 and the matinee ticket includes tea and cake during the interval. There is a licenced bar at all evening performances.
Reserve your tickets and nominate R2R for £5 a ticket:

Email: honsec@broadstoneplayers.co.uk
Tel: 01202 678449
Charity tickets are not available at their ticket sales outlets.

Gaslight Poster

 
Posted by in Uncategorized on | , , , , , , ,

Routes to Roots is delighted to thank a player from AFC Bournemouth for an amazing donation which he has specified is to fund our new supported housing, Amos House, over the coming year. Amos House has offered accommodation to three of Poole’s rough sleepers since last December. We are providing practical, emotional and spiritual support to them as they take this first step back into society, with the aim of eventually helping them to find independent housing. The house is an ongoing cost to Routes to Roots as we are responsible for upkeep, maintenance and other management expenses. So, this is very generous and R2R is very happy that this Premier League player has recognised the vital support we provide to serve the needs of homeless people of all faiths in Poole. Up the Cherries!

http://www.afcb.co.uk/

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