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Help for the homeless at the Pilsdon Community

A community that helps vulnerable people rebuild their lives has won a share of a £70million Government grant.

 

BCHA and West Dorset District Council have been working with the Pilsdon Community to help secure £861,358 from the Government’s Places of Change Programme. The programme was launched last year to help rough sleepers get off the streets and back into work.

 

The Pilsdon Community, near Bridport has been working to combat homelessness for 50 years and will use its grant towards a £1.26 million project designed to build on its existing work.

 

The money will:

  • Improve and increase the accommodation available at Pilsdon Community by providing 30 single rooms for men and women
  • Increase service users’ skills by getting them involved in the renovation of existing buildings
  • Help reduce the community’s carbon footprint by introducing a range of eco-friendly measures including a heat exchange system, solar panels and rain water harvesting
  • Improve skills of the community’s members by offering training in a wide range of skills including animal husbandry, gardening and catering through the Skills Centre of BCHA

 

Jonathan Herbert, warden at the Pilsdon Community said: “This grant is fantastic news for us. It will not only help us improve the accommodation we are able to offer people but will mean we will be able to help more people than we do now.  By offering better training opportunities we hope to help more people get back into work and off benefit.  The grant won’t change the ethos of Pilsdon but it will change and improve the environment we live in”

 

Robert Gould, leader of West Dorset District Council said: “I am delighted that the district council has been able to work with the Pilsdon Community to help secure this funding.  It will enable the Pilsdon Community to offer even more support to some of the most marginalised people in the community.”

 

Martin Hancock, BCHA Chief Executive, said: "BCHA and Pilsdon Community have a lot in common as both organisations help vulnerable people rebuild their lives.  We are really pleased to have played a part in identifying and securing the Places of Change funding.  It goes to show that what can be achieved when organisations with shared values work together."