Starbucks Next West Quay Shopping Centre

Thanks to the support of a national Christian social enterprise, Routes to Roots has been able to offer supported accommodation to three of Poole’s rough sleepers since December 2015. The three clients each have their own bedroom and share bathroom, kitchen and living space. Routes to Roots is working closely with them to support them as they take this first step back into society. The charity is conscious that, in order to maintain their accommodation once housed, many people require significant support if they are not to fall back into homelessness because they are unable to cope alone with paying their rent and bills, making benefits claims and job applications or are still struggling with gambling, alcohol or drug addictions. Routes to Roots’ numbers on homelessness are broadly in line with national statistics and housing shortages for its client group are particularly severe in Poole. Sadly, many of those who are on the streets are long-term rough sleepers or people who recycle into homelessness. During 2020-21, we have had three tenants. Delays in moving people on and finding new tenants were brought about by the pandemic and lockdowns. Steve, who moved into local authority housing in September 2020, took advantage of a grant we were able to secure to buy essential furniture and appliances for his new home. Before Christmas 2020 our first female tenant moved in after being homeless and put in a B&B during the lockdowns. R2R still requires money and volunteers to enable the charity to support the three tenants, and take care of any repairs.

Having suffered the death of their son Jethro Courage earlier this year, Tony and Ruth have set up a charitable foundation to support children and families who are working through the trauma of grief and loss. Therapy through theme parks has been something which as a family Ruth and Tony have found massively helpful - taking the children out for day trips to make new memories, celebrate the life of Jethro and just have fun (particularly when grief makes the idea of fun seem so hard). Tony and Ruth have only been able to take advantage of fun days out due to the generous support of their family, friends and community. The Courage Foundation UK, seeks to make these days out possible for any child or family who has suffered loss of a special person. The days out can be applied for by the family themselves or by friends or relatives applying on their behalf.