Providing safe housing, building brighter futures, and strengthening communities.
At Hope Housing, we offer more than just a place to stay. We provide support, resources, and opportunities to help individuals and families find stability, rebuild their lives, and contribute to stronger communities.
Our History
Hope Housing, Training & Support Ltd has grown from humble beginnings into a trusted provider of supported accommodation, helping individuals rebuild their lives and move beyond homelessness.
Our journey began in 1992, when David Bottrell, Julie’s late father, established DKB through the purchase of St John’s Lodge. This marked the foundation of what would later become Hope Housing, with a clear vision to support vulnerable individuals in the community.
In 2009, alongside his daughter Julie, the organisation transitioned into Hope Housing and achieved charitable status—marking the beginning of a new chapter focused on providing structured, person-centred supported accommodation.
From the outset, Hope has been committed to offering more than just housing. Early developments included dedicated spaces for one-to-one sessions and group work, as well as investment in health and wellbeing through the introduction of an in-house gym.
A key milestone came in 2014, when Hope purchased its first additional property at 24 Library Road, enabling the organisation to expand its reach and support more individuals. Continued investment followed, including extensions and achieving ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Accreditation (2015–2016), demonstrating a strong commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
In 2017, significant developments took place, including the completion of building works at 24 Library Road, securing funding for a new office, and strengthening governance with the appointment of a new Chair of Trustees. That same year, the organisation experienced a profound loss with the passing of co-founder David Bottrell, whose legacy continues to shape Hope Housing today.
Hope has continued to grow through innovation and community-focused initiatives. Projects such as the AOK Rucksack Appeal, the Bike Project, and the development of a purpose-built office space have strengthened both services and engagement with the wider community.
In 2019, Julie launched the social enterprise Hope & More, which included the Hope Soap initiative and a charity shop. This created valuable opportunities for residents to gain practical skills, build confidence, and engage in meaningful activity.
Also in 2019, St John’s Lodge underwent a full refurbishment, including the conversion of old office spaces into additional bedrooms. This increased capacity from 15 beds to 23, significantly enhancing Hope’s ability to support more residents in a safe and structured environment.
Further developments included adapting facilities to meet emerging needs, such as the creation of the Soap Kitchen in 2020, and expanding social impact through the continued growth of the Hope & More Charity Shop, which opened in 2021.
Leadership and service quality have remained at the heart of Hope’s success, with Lisa Everett progressing to Director of Services in 2023 after many years of dedicated service.
Most recently, in 2024, Hope secured National Lottery Community Funding for three years, supporting the continued delivery and development of vital services.
In 2026, the Hope & More Charity Shop was closed and repurposed into a Soap Kitchen and workshop space, further enhancing opportunities for practical skills development, wellbeing activities, and community engagement.
Today, Hope Housing manages multiple properties and supports individuals with complex needs, providing a safe, structured environment where people can rebuild confidence, develop life skills, and move towards independent living.
Supported Housing
We provide structured, abstinent supported accommodation for adults in Bournemouth and Poole, helping people rebuild confidence, regain independence, and move forward with their lives.
What we do
Health & Wellbeing
At Hope Housing, our Health & Wellbeing Coach supports residents to reconnect with essential services and build confidence in managing their health. Many residents have faced barriers to accessing healthcare, and we work alongside them to rebuild these important connections and support their overall wellbeing.
Hope Housing provides one-to-one counselling for every resident as part of our unique person-centred support model, recognising that emotional wellbeing is a key part of recovery, stability, and moving forward.
One-to-One Counselling for Residents
At Hope Housing, our Personal Development Programme is a central part of our person-centred support model, helping residents build emotional resilience, self-awareness, confidence, and the life skills needed to move towards greater independence.
Personal Development
Safeguarding
Hope Housing in Bournemouth takes safeguarding very seriously. We believe that no one should suffer harm, exploitation or abuse of any kind.
At Hope Housing we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all young people and adults. To keep individuals safe and work in a way that protects them. Hope Housing provides a safe abstinent environment giving residents a sense of belonging where they can contribute and thrive enabling personal growth.
We maintain high standards and are inspected annually by ISO 9001. We review our practice quarterly reflecting on our work and progress. We diligently train staff, trustees and volunteers enabling them to work to a professional standard within our setting.