Bournemouth Oratory Redevelopment Appeal

Please support our appeal to raise money for the first phase redevelopment of the undercroft of our Church based on Richmond Hill, into a multi-purpose, high quality, sustainable and accessible hub, delivering a range of services and activities for the whole community.

The works will cost around £500k though we are only 50k off the target , we have to raise this amount by the 20th April if we are to move forward with the works.

For several years our halls have been a vital venue of support for the most vulnerable in Bournemouth’s community, providing a hub for many groups locally:

• St Mungo's Rough Sleepers Outreach team
• Homeless Mental Health Support
• Homes for Heroes
• YMCA.

However, the hall's poor design, accessibility issues and overall deterioration, means that if we are to continue to provide for Bournemouth – we desperately need to bring the halls up to the standards and expectations relevant in the 21st Century.

A refreshed hub for the Community

We aim to provide a safe, supported, and welcoming environment for all members of the community, and as well those groups currently using our space including:

• Access to our halls for wheelchair users, by levelling out internal areas.
• Installing a fully accessible disabled toilet
• Equipping the larger hall with new sound and visual facilities - making it a suitable space for a range of activities
• Introducing an interview room to facilitate one to one counselling sessions and meetings
• Community café

The community café will be a host facility for internship opportunities to young people with disabilities, working closely with ‘Autism Unlimited’ and with ‘COAST’ (BCP Council’s Community Outreach & Support Team). Both organisations provide supported internship programmes for young people with learning disabilities to gain employability skills in the hospitality sector.

This café will transform the lives of these young people and enable them to acquire hospitality skills and experience in a safe working environment, which could lead to paid work in the future.

Please give kindly to our appeal, these works will really help us provide a refreshed hub for community groups to carry out the life changing work they do!

Read the below extract from our partner Autism Unlimited and how their programme ‘Futures’ supports young people with learning difficulties.

Partnering with ‘Futures’ - helping autistic children

Sean wants to be independent – to learn and work locally, and live near to his family. He is autistic and has associated learning difficulties which have been a barrier to his ambitions. Sean is 18; options for further education, employment, supported housing and community engagement are limited and not in line with his personal aspirations.

If provision cannot be found locally, young people like Sean are moved away from their home area, causing upheaval, distress and the uncertainty of continued funding. On returning home, they often find they have lost the connection with their community. They feel that they are not understood or accepted resulting in increased feelings of loneliness and isolation and negatively impacting on their mental wellbeing. Covid-19 has magnified these issues.

We want to change the future for young people like Sean. Those aged 18-25, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), should have the same chances as others and be part of, and contributing to, their own community. We provide pathways to employability, further education or volunteering. We enable the development of independent living skills, help with friendships and relationships as well as maintain good health and wellbeing.

Autism Unlimited invested in Futures, a pilot project in Christchurch in 2021. Futures is a 1-2 year programme with Learners attending a hub 3-5 days a week, depending on previous experience and existing skills. We focus on the delivery of four key outcomes, Community Inclusion, Employment, Health and Independent Living.

This successful pilot demonstrates that our model works. Sean has a bespoke plan, tailored to him and his needs. He is part of the community, has started a work placement at a café, is being educated about nutrition and exercise, and will soon experience independent living in the Futures hub. This individualised person-centred approach is key to getting the very best results for Sean.

Futures is delighted to be associated with the Sacred Heart Church’s crowdfunding appeal, as we can see the potential for young people like Sean, to engage in real work environments; to practise the disciplines of work, and to develop hospitality and catering skills. The new café at the Sacred Heart Church will offer a safe, supportive environment for young people with similar challenges to Sean. Many young disabled people will have brighter futures and fulfilled lives; be able to learn, work and live locally; and be part of and engage with their community, as a result of their involvement with this important project.