Local grant funds practical support for people leaving homelessness
Bournemouth organisations say a £10,000 grant is making a measurable difference to people moving from supported accommodation towards independent living. The money, awarded by The Roger Raymond Charitable Trust to YMCA Bournemouth’s Move-On Project, has been used to provide tailored support, confidence-building and practical guidance for residents who have experienced homelessness.
The Move-On Project used the funding to increase one-to-one keyworker sessions, run workshops and assist residents with the steps needed to secure and manage their own tenancies. YMCA Bournemouth reports tangible outcomes during the grant year, including the number of people supported, the capacity of shelters and the move-on figures that charities, local authorities and landlords will be watching closely.
"The Roger Raymond Charitable Trust has helped us provide that support. Its generosity has given people the time, encouragement, and practical help they need to rebuild their confidence and begin preparing for life beyond supported accommodation," said Christopher Wakefield, head of fundraising and partnerships at YMCA Bournemouth.
Local staff and volunteers describe the work as practical as well as pastoral: helping people to understand benefit systems, manage bills, search for and furnish accommodation and rebuild routines that sustain independent living. The charity also runs a weekly food provision in Westover Road, which continues to operate as a vital point of contact.
- Grant: £10,000 from The Roger Raymond Charitable Trust
- Project: YMCA Bournemouth — Move-On Project
- Support provided: one-to-one sessions, workshops, move-on assistance and weekly soup kitchen
YMCA Bournemouth provided figures for the year funded by the grant. They say staff and volunteers:
| Measure | Number |
|---|---|
| People housed or supported | 180 |
| Beds across sites | 114 |
| One-to-one keyworker sessions | 945 |
| Workshops delivered | More than 150 |
| Residents moved to more independent accommodation | 22 |
| Weekly soup kitchen attendees | Approximately 40–50 |
Those figures point to a dual approach: stabilising people in supported accommodation while actively working to transition them into longer-term housing. For charities in Bournemouth, the challenge is not only finding homes but ensuring people have the skills and support networks to sustain them.
Staff emphasise that grants of this size can have an outsized local impact when targeted at intensive support. Smaller charities often rely on a mixture of trust funding, local donations and statutory contracts; a focused grant can allow them to increase staffing hours, expand the availability of one-to-one help and run additional training sessions.
Voluntary-sector contacts in Bournemouth said the Move-On Project is one of several local services that together form a safety net for people at different stages of homelessness or housing instability. The weekly Friday night soup kitchen in Westover Road remains a frontline contact point, offering food, conversation and signposting to further services.
For residents who have used the project, the support has practical and mental-health benefits. One person supported by the Move-On Project told YMCA Bournemouth that the help had "helped with my confidence and mental health," reflecting the emotional as well as material value of sustained, person-centred support.
Local councillors and housing officers face mounting pressure to increase affordable supply, but the immediate need for tailored support will remain. Grants such as this one buy time and capacity for charities to work with residents on the complex steps to independent living — from paperwork and benefits to life skills — which councils alone cannot always provide.
As Bournemouth continues to respond to housing need across the area, charities highlight that partnership funding from trusts and local donors is essential to bridge gaps and help people rebuild lives with dignity.
