A Bournemouth charity supporting people affected by homelessness has received a donation of £500 from the St Martin’s Trust.
Hope Housing, Training & Support welcomed trustees and friends of the Trust to its base in St Swithuns Road to show how the funds will help residents rebuild their lives.
Hope provides accommodation and support for people facing complex challenges including addiction, trauma and poor mental health. More than 2,700 people have been supported by the charity since it began.
The St Martin’s Trust, which started over 30 years ago in Southbourne, previously operated a second-hand bookshop where people could meet and talk. Following the shop’s closure last year, the Trust now distributes its investment income to local causes.
During the visit, the group saw Hope’s workshops, counselling spaces, and its soap and candle-making enterprise, Hope Soap. They also spoke with residents and heard about their experiences.
Hope currently supports over 100 adults across Bournemouth and Poole. Chief Executive Julie Berti said the donation would help the charity continue its work tackling the causes and effects of homelessness.