A FAITH charity that provides support for people in crisis and isolation is looking to further progress its work after moving into a new home in Bournemouth.

Staff, volunteers and partners of Faithworks Wessex marked the organisation’s switch to Winton Methodist Church with a special service at the site yesterday afternoon.

Dozens gathered for the celebration, which highlighted the work done by the charity and hopes for the future.

Alistair Doxat-Purser, chief executive of Faithworks Wessex, said the new offices were significant.

“It is a totally different place to where we were before. It is not all about office space, since we first started the focus on what we are about has really tuned in,” he said.

“It is possible to see an individual come off the street, get accommodation and now be volunteering back in one of our projects.

“You have to stop and realise that is extraordinary. That life has been utterly turned around and there is a person there who can come back to being alive in a way.

“For me those moments are what we are here for.

“We are a small charity, with big numbers associated with it, but to go home and know you have made a difference is incredible.”

Mr Doxat-Purser said the move had already had a positive impact with training sessions taking place at the church.

Faithworks Wessex currently has 400 volunteers and directly helped more than 6,000 people last year through its range of initiatives.

The charity has developed strong relationships with many agencies in the conurbation, which Mr Doxat Purser said was key.

“No one organisation can do all that needs to be done to help people, it is just impossible,” he added.

“In these days when statutory resources are getting less, then only by working together are we going to actually achieve.

“In Bournemouth and Poole we have the people volunteering. What we need more of is a few digital agencies to help us move the technology forward.”

Faithworks Wessex’s projects include social isolation, loneliness and financial crisis.

“It isn’t in some ways about the numbers we help,” Mr Doxat-Purser said.

“It is about is the individual who found freedom and some hope.

“There are an awful lot of folk who are just not quite managing.

“If we can get alongside those people with a little hand up or walking alongside them so they can flourish.

“Our vision is everybody should be within 15 minutes of crisis help. We won’t provide all the help, but where we can we will play our part to make it happen.

“It is getting there and maybe not everyone knows that. Our next stage is to start getting the message out to say there is help.”