Faithworks Wessex

Faithworks Wessex (FWW) is a registered charity working across the conurbation of Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and the surrounding area. Our Vision is for individuals to find freedom from relational and financial despair, and rebuild their self-confidence to “live life in all its fullness”. Faithworks is a Christian charity that builds partnerships within the community to run practical, local projects that equip people to climb out of crisis and make life-enhancing choices. In particular, we want every individual in crisis in urban Dorset to be within a mile of crisis help, every volunteer to find a bespoke role in Faithworks, and every local church to be equipped to reach their community with practical hope. FWW serves anyone in the local community need regardless of their circumstances or beliefs. We have five main groups of projects based around the themes of Housing, Money, Recovery, Food and Families. 1 – Housing – we run four programmes for rough sleepers: - A drop in for rough sleepers where they can find help and support - A winter bed scheme to provide a safe place to sleep - A buddy scheme to help those off of the streets to become stable and secure - A training café and carpentry workshop to provide skills and purpose. 2 – Money management – providing debt and financial support to those who are struggling. This is open to any adult. We have 10 locations across the area where people can go and receive support. 3 – Recovery – providing help to those struggling with addiction and unhelpful habits. Also supporting those who live with and care for those in addiction. Open to anyone. 4 – Food – we run five foodbanks across the region, providing emergency food parcels and a friendly ear to those in need. 5 – Families – providing support to single parents through providing a support network and a range of activities to support community and social inclusion. Why do we work in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch? The area is a place of contrasts. There are the extremely wealthy and then there are the rehab centres and the rough sleepers. It is a place that is warm and promises seaside living but it is in the top 10 of least affordable places to live in the UK and on average has poorer pay scales than elsewhere. There are also a number of areas that fall within the 10% most deprived in England and it is largely from those areas which our beneficiaries come. Our approach remains the same across our projects to help people in their moment of crisis, to walk alongside them out of that crisis, and then to equip them to avoid future crisis (potentially training them to help others who are facing similar situations).