Doorway Wiltshire has been supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Chippenham since 2004, providing a vital lifeline for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
Funding from CBLC will contribute towards the cost of delivering their Building Better Lives programme. Operating from their base at The Citadel, the project provides daily drop-ins, practical support, and a range of groups and courses designed to build confidence, skills, and resilience.
Doorway offers a safe and welcoming environment for single adults over 16 who are homeless or facing housing insecurity. Their core services include:
- Warmth, hot food, showers, and clean clothes
- Peer support groups focused on mental health and wellbeing
- Access to outdoor activities such as a Football Group and an Allotment Group, improving mental health and physical fitness
- Practical advice and referrals, including help with housing applications and accessing services such as Homes4Wiltshire
The organisation also works in partnership with Wiltshire Council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Workers and a range of agencies including Citizens Advice, the Mental Health team, and the Living Well team to support guests in moving towards secure housing and better health outcomes.
Building Better Lives is not just about addressing immediate needs but about empowering people to take positive steps in their lives – reducing stigma, promoting inclusion, and increasing opportunities for community participation. Through peer support groups, skills courses, and outdoor activities, guests improve their mental health, develop new skills, and gain confidence.
There is no other organisation in Chippenham providing the same level of practical support and face-to-face referral service for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Doorway’s local knowledge, experience, and commitment make them a trusted and essential service within the community.
Funding from CBLC will help Doorway maintain their open access service and ensure they can continue to support those who need it most including people often living in precarious and unsafe housing situations including temporary accommodation, hostels, tents, cars, or boats.
This grant will support outcomes including:
- Improved access to services
- Reduced food poverty
- Improved mental and physical health
- Increased self-confidence and social cohesion
- People feeling safer in their homes and community
Doorway’s approach is rooted in respect, dignity, and empowerment, helping people help themselves out of homelessness and towards a better future.
