Half-time Celebrates 5 Years Helping Individuals Escaping Homelessness

BOURNEMOUTH | 4th April 2022

On the wall of the Half-time venue on Westover Road you will find these words…“Dear all at Half-time, I love you all; thank you for your strength and encouraging me through the grace of God to keep going. R”. This is just one example of the sort of difference that 1392 appointments at Half-time have had since April 2017. The Half time centre is a collaboration between YMCA providing staff and the facility, Faithworks Wessex providing staff and volunteers, and local Christians in the town.

Half-time is where individuals who want to get off the street have time and support to work out their plan of action. Sometimes people are so lost and confused they don't know what they need, so the first priority is to offer a safe place for people to be heard and listened to. Offering a listening ear and affording people time is the key. The team can then offer a range of practical help; travel costs, laundry, a shower, support to get missing ID and even home start packs to help turn 4 walls into a home. It is amazing how an opportunity for self-care, a shower and clean clothes lift the spirit and give motivation to take the next step off the street.

Half-time compliments other services for rough sleepers across the town as part of the growing Homelessness Partnership; linking with the St Mungo's Street Outreach team, and the Council’s housing support officers to make sure people have the best chance of getting a “home”. The venue has a Change For Good giving point outside to provide an opportunity for the public to give to the town-wide support fund for charities helping rough sleepers.

In its first 3 years, Half-time was the front door for Sleepsafe, the winter emergency beds programme, that led to 133 people getting off the street. And in the first year alone, 235 people used the shower facilities. During Covid lockdown, the venue was turned over to be a laundry service for those in emergency accommodation – and was used 435 times! Meanwhile 454 letters have been received there as a temporary address for those without a permanent residency.

As Alistair Doxat-Purser, CEO at Faithworks puts it: “it’s called Half-time, because although the first part of life may have been horrendous, like in any football match taking a time-out for a half-time team talk gives you the chance to turn things round - there is always hope for the second half.

…And working with our friends at YMCA over these 5 years to help people experience something of God’s love and compassion through motivation and support and love in the simplest and most practical of ways… well that in itself is a great result for anyone”.

For further information about the project contact Faithworks Wessex on 01202 429037.