How Bournemouth charities are dealing with their hardest months

“We Are Humans has a massive impact on the homeless community in Bournemouth. We deal in humanity."

“We see our arms stretching further around different parts of the community.”

"If we say we are going to do something it gets done.”

“Every penny that comes in goes out into these projects.”

Andrew Talbot - We Are Humans Founder and CEO

We are Humans, a charity in Boscombe that supports the homeless and those in financial hardship says they are feeling the January-February struggle.

“Demand is higher, and people are skint and paying off Christmas,” said Andrew Talbot the charity’s CEO.

Mr Talbot set up the charity over 20 years ago after his experience being homeless himself. At first once he was back on his feet, he would feed his friends who were still living on the street through buying reduced vegetables from supermarkets and making sandwiches and soups to hand out.

2 years ago Mr Talbot set up his charity base on Sea Road, Boscombe and We Are Humans became an official, registered charity. He began his journey there with free breakfast clubs for children and their parents and slowly added more events such as advice sessions, pensioners lunch clubs and access to a community pantry. They also hand out meals to the homeless on Saturday and Sundays.

Mr Talbot explained that help for the homeless is needed now more than ever. Despite the growth in their charity they continue to see more and more people struggling and needing help.

Now We Are Humans are seeing more people needing help than ever due to the cost-of-living crisis. “We see our arms stretching further around different parts of the community.” Said Mr Talbot. He said that they have had to make extra sessions within their community for housing issues as well as providing food. 

The team, led by Mr Talbot tried to prepare for the late winter lull in donations by holding a charity event at Asda in Bournemouth to donate groceries for their community pantry giving them more stock to cope for these quieter two months. But more help is always wanted.

“We Are Humans has a massive impact on the homeless community in Bournemouth. We deal in humanity. We don’t share information about our guys. If we say we are going to do something it gets done.”

We Are Humans urge the public to donate to their cause if they can. “Every penny that comes in goes out into these projects,” says Mr Talbot.

We Are Humans except donations at their base on Sea Road, Boscombe. They are in need of tents, sleeping bags and food donations.

It’s not just We Are Humans that are feeling the struggle, It’s All About Culture is having the same thoughts.

“We’ve seen more people coming in,” says Charmain Beckles who is the Manager of Its All About Culture (IAAC), a charity that aims to bring people together through activity groups and by providing meals for the community.

The charity aims to bring all types of people from any race, community or religion together. 

“ We are here for every aspect of the community,” said Mrs Beckles.

They run a Men’s social group, Arts and Crafts group and a social café with a subsided Caribbean meal they then give the remainder of the food free to the homeless. 

IAAC used to be based in the Sovereign centre but lost their base their due to lack of funding. They now rent a space at the We Are Humans base.

Mrs Beckles explained that now they are in Boscombe they have the opportunity to help more people but that also means there are more people needing help.

Steve Beckles, IAAC group facilitator, explained that they take no money from the charity and “all money going in comes back out.”

“Sometimes when you are doing something for money you don’t have the same passion, when you are doing it from your heart it is a completely different ballgame,” he said.

IAAC are looking for volunteers for a couple hours a week and food donations to use for their Friday meals.

“We’ve seen more people coming in.”

“ We are here for every aspect of the community.”

“All money going in comes back out.”

“Sometimes when you are doing something for money you don’t have the same passion, when you are doing it from your heart it is a completely different ballgame.”