Elisabeth Salisbury

The Gatehouse was founded in 1988 by Churches Together in Central Oxford (CTCO) to provide a drop-in centre for homeless and vulnerably-housed adults. Over the years the service has developed from offering practical provision in order to reduce food poverty, isolation and disadvantage, to supporting individuals to gain and retain their housing, and addressing inequalities in health, education, employment, and wellbeing. The aim is to support individuals to sustain long-term independence. Gatehouse users are involved in choosing and developing all the services provided. They are, after all, the experts; they have lived the experience.

Pre-COVID, the community drop-in centre was a hive of activity offering food, practical provision, companionship, workshops, art, and poetry – six evenings a week. COVID meant it wasn’t safe to continue in this way so the model was adapted to a delivery service of food and practical supplies, and a delivery service for the many vulnerably housed who had previously used the centre. In partnership with Oxford Food Hub (previously known as Oxford Food Bank), weekly parcels of food that could be prepared at home or in the temporary accommodation provided under the Government’s ‘Everyone In’ mandate went to those in need. Until the risk of COVID has decreased, Gatehouse is committed to continuing this service throughout 2021.

Pre-COVID, 400 volunteers worked for Gatehouse, welcoming guests, preparing food, and facilitating marketing and publicity. Volunteers – being mostly clinically vulnerable or students – decreased in number by 95% overnight at the first lockdown. Things are improving now with track-and-trace and social distancing, and many volunteers have continued to support the project by raising funds and making donations of non-prepared food and clothing.

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Forty-Three e-Newsletter • Number 503 • March 2021
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org