‘ We often tell clients that we offer more than just a bed and a meal.’
AMY BURTON
violence, often alongside involvement with the criminal justice system.
COMMUNITY HUBS One of Bridge the Gap’ s VCSE partners, Molesey Churches Night Shelter( MCNS), provides emergency accommodation for rough sleepers in Elmbridge. Bridge the Gap outreach worker Amy Burton is based at the shelter which, as well as providing emergency accommodation, aims to help guests access the support they need to make lasting changes in their lives. Alongside emergency accommodation, MCNS has increased its provision to offer daytime hubs for night shelter guests so that they have a warm, safe place to stay until the night shelter opens.
This community hub enables Bridge the Gap workers like Amy to facilitate the multi-agency support residents may need from statutory services like substance use treatment or community mental health teams, and be that conduit to a more joined-up, trauma-informed approach.
‘ We often tell clients that we offer more than just a bed and a meal,’ says Amy.‘ The trauma-informed approach used by Bridge the Gap helps us to provide effective, longlasting support for our clients that can make a real difference in their lives.’ By partnering with Bridge the Gap, MCNS is able to provide longerterm support that tackles the root causes of that person’ s homelessness – rather than a temporary sticking plaster – and enables more sustainable and meaningful health and life outcomes for clients.
PEOPLE ' S CHOICE The Surrey County Council ethos is that‘ No one is left behind’ and the Changing Futures Bridge the Gap team were recently awarded the people’ s choice award at the council’ s Stars in Surrey awards. One outreach worker told us that supporting adults who’ ve‘ experienced trauma and complex challenges is truly meaningful work, and being recognised by this award means the world to us.’ The Changing Futures team is urgently seeking funding beyond June 2026 to be able to continue to provide this valuable support offer in the community – one that is evidenced to be making a genuine difference to the lives of Surrey residents experiencing multiple disadvantage.
Helen Munro is communications support at Changing Futures
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