Faithworks

Faithworks (FW) was established in 2004.  FW will always seek to act in accordance with our Christian ethos, which includes serving all regardless of their circumstances or beliefs. We are working with many partners, and are particularly successful in inspiring and enabling churches to identify and then meet the needs of their local communities.

We want to see an end to homelessness of all sorts, an end to food poverty and an end to loneliness.  And specifically, we want every single person locally to be within 15 minutes of a place of welcome that radiates life, community, and immediate help – so that no one need battle hard times on their own.”  We believe that no one should be alone on their journey when life is hard. We recognise that everyone’s journey is different when times are hard. We think of it like a set of traffic lights:  Going from a life that has come to a stop (“red”) where there is a need for immediate help with essentials like food, debt advice and shelter.   To starting to move forward (“amber”) with our team members alongside, connecting with a range of support, gaining confidence within a community. And then re-imagining and finding new purpose, resilience and hope (“green”) which might be through doing skills for life courses, or taking on training or employment again.

To achieve this three-fold mission, we collaborate with a whole range of partners – councils, other charities and local churches – preferably in shared venues where people are on hand to offer help immediately. We run practical projects around food, finance, recovery/mental health, homelessness and lone parenting in urban Dorset. Are projects include:   SMILE (helping lone parents), FW Arch (helping the homeless and those in recovery), 3 Hope into Action move-on homes, FW CMA (largest community money advice service in the UK helping those in financial crisis), 5 Life Centres – also known as Foodbank+ where we provide food packages but then access to all of the other services (and where CMA teams are co-located), and the We’re Here Network (helping to equip churches with “warm spaces” to be the best they can be at welcoming everyone whatever their needs).   

The pandemic resulted in a significant increase in demand for our services and we are still tallying our impact.  We responded to new needs and were very creative redefining our services.  We have outstanding relationships with local partners including BCP Council, demonstrated by our CEO chairing the local Homelessness and Access to Food Partnership forums. In 2022, our staff and over 270 volunteers helped over 5,400 people at the life centres with food, uniform, days out, recipe bags etc.; at least 40 people got their debt under control; 2 families and 3 individuals had a safe home in our move-on homes; over 450 people got immediate help to get off the street; 270 people had furniture delivered instead of facing 4 bare walls, and 80 families were stronger because of our lone parent community.