Visiting BCHA’s St Paul’s Hostel

Your Labour parliamentary candidate Tom joined BCHA’s CEO Lorraine Mealings and BCHA’s manager of St Paul’s Hostel, Amy Smith, at the hostel.

BCHA are a charitable housing association supporting individuals and families across the South West and South of England, including in Bournemouth East. BCHA was founded in 1968 by a group of volunteers in Bournemouth trying to contribute to the local housing problems and, today, they are a major provider of a diverse range of housing, support and learning services for socially excluded people.

Recognising the challenges of drug or alcohol dependence, mental health issues, or trauma, this hostel ensures residents have comprehensive support. From action plans to in-house training on crucial life skills, Tom saw how every aspect of this service aims to restore hope and confidence. Staff provide advice and support around accommodation, addictions, health and life skills. And, brilliantly, the hostel accepts people with dogs and, soon, the first cat.

Tom toured the hostel and talked about national policy changes which could better support people with complex needs and homeless people. As the CEO of a domestic abuse and mental health charity that has delivered complex needs support to homeless people in a hostel, Tom sits on a homelessness partnership. During the discussion with Lorraine and Amy, Tom learned about the support that is presently available and what more could be done with investment.

Tom also learned about BCHA’s newly launched strategy, which you can read about by clicking here.

Tom Hayes, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bournemouth East, said: “It was brilliant to visit St Paul’s Hostel and find out about the amazing work of BCHA. As Bournemouth East’s MP I would fight for investment and policy changes which support local homeless people.”