More Than a Drop-In: Expanding Support for People Experiencing Homelessness in Thanet
For someone experiencing homelessness, access to a hot meal or shower can make an immediate difference. But finding a sustainable route away from homelessness often requires much more – from housing and healthcare to employment support, confidence and connection.
That is why the Kent Reliance Community Foundation is providing a £48,755 grant to Margate Football Club Community Trust to expand its homeless drop-in project in Thanet.
The funding will enable the Trust to increase the service from one session to two sessions each week, giving more people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness access to practical facilities and specialist support.
Margate Football Club Community Trust is a registered charity using sport, recreation and education to support people within Margate and the wider Thanet community, particularly those facing challenges arising from poverty or difficult social and economic circumstances.
Its existing homeless drop-in project is already providing an important point of support.
Over the past year, the weekly service recorded 887 contacts from 182 individuals. With demand steadily increasing, the Trust identified a need to expand its provision and make support available twice a week.
The project makes use of the facilities available at Margate Football Club to create a safe and welcoming environment where people can access hot food, showers, laundry facilities, clean clothes and internet access.
But the support goes much further.
Sessions will provide structured physical activity to support health and wellbeing, housing assistance through the Thanet RISE team, mental health drop-ins, and life-skills sessions focused on areas such as teamwork, communication and confidence.
Participants can also receive CV and employment support, develop social connections and access specialist services including foot healthcare and a mobile dentist.
Our grant will help meet the costs of the people delivering the project as well as the venue, equipment, food, travel and specialist health provision.
The expanded project aims to support 150 people from the local homeless community, helping them work towards secure accommodation and appropriate employment while connecting them with professional support for issues including addiction, mental health and medical needs.
Jonathan Couch, Head of Grants, said:
"What particularly impressed us about this project is the range of support available in one place. Someone might initially come through the door for a hot meal, a shower or clean clothes, but that contact can become an opportunity to access housing advice, healthcare, employment support or simply somewhere safe to connect with other people.
The existing service is clearly needed, and our grant will allow Margate Football Club Community Trust to build on what is already working by doubling the number of sessions available each week. We hope that means more people can get the practical and specialist support they need to take positive steps away from homelessness."
The project demonstrates how an established community facility can be used in a very different way to respond to local need.
By expanding an existing service with a strong level of engagement, the Foundation's funding will enable Margate Football Club Community Trust to provide more frequent and comprehensive support – helping people address immediate needs while creating opportunities for longer-term stability, independence and connection.
For more information about Margate Football Club Community Trust and its work, visit the Margate Football Club website.