New SAMEE House opens in Bournemouth

A Bournemouth charity has officially opened The SAMEE House, a new hub supporting disabled adults to become self-employed.

SAMEE, which stands for Support and Mentoring Enabling Entrepreneurship, is based in Richmond Hill Gardens and now provides a permanent home for its pioneering Supported Self-Employment Internship. The two-year programme offers training and mentoring to adults with learning difficulties, long-term health conditions and neurodivergence, helping them build skills and confidence to launch their own businesses.

Until now, SAMEE delivered its sessions in hotels. The new centre has been designed to meet the needs of its interns, with training rooms, private meeting spaces, a mezzanine for group activities and a sensory room offering a calm environment. The sensory room includes bean bags, fish tanks, muted lighting, soft toys and light-up rugs.

The house also features “Steve’s Place,” dedicated to inspirational mentor Steve Harrison, who supported interns until shortly before his death last month.

Mayor of Bournemouth Councillor Jackie Edwards led the official opening, joined by Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes, representatives of Bournemouth West MP Jessica Toale, and local supporters. Mr Hayes said the space was “a unique place combining learning with a supportive, community feel.”

SAMEE founder and CEO Samantha Everard said the charity had long dreamed of creating a space where vulnerable young adults could grow in confidence and independence, and that The SAMEE House was already fulfilling that vision.

One of the programme’s first success stories, Anton, who has ADHD and autism, launched his own gardening business just three months after starting the internship and now acts as a SAMEE ambassador.

The charity says the new facility is a milestone in its mission to support more disabled people into self-employment across Dorset and beyond.