WORK has started to renovate a former Baptist church building into a hub to help homeless people.

The Routes to Roots' Hill Street hub will take shape at the former Hill Street Baptist Church, Poole, after securing backing from the Talbot Village Trust.

It is hoped the hub will eventually help the homeless and vulnerably housed back into more permanent accommodation within the community.

Routes to Roots founder, the Reverend Pat Southgate, said: "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.

“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 £3,000 from the sale of the pews, which would help fund the cost of installing our all-important shower facilities.”

The Reverend established the Routes to Roots charity in 2002

The Hill Street outreach facility is being fully renovated and will provide basic necessities to improve the well-being of those in need.

Facilities such as showers, toilets, laundry, hot food, clothing and sleeping bags will be provided in addition to access to outreach workers for addiction and mental health support, nurses, chiropodists, housing and benefit advisors.

Reverend Southgate has been supporting rough sleepers and vulnerably housed individuals in Poole for much of the last two decades through drop-in sessions. It has long been the charity’s ambition to acquire a space of its own, from which to offer these services

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. This grant will help fund a new kitchen and the associated white goods and equipment needed to cater for up to 50 clients.

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.

Visit www.routestoroots.org/charity for further information.