8 Residents from supported housing charity Hope HTS and the YMCA are celebrating after winning the Bournemouth Unity Football League.
Launched in 2018 by AFC Bournemouth's Community Sports Trust to enable keen footballers to play competitive football on a regular basis, the Unity League brings together service users from organisations such as Dorset Mind, the YMCA and Hope Housing.
Hope is a Dorset-based charity providing supported housing for 92 single homeless individuals. When residents join from rehabilitation, custody or from the streets, the charity helps and supports them to feel able to move forward into independent, non-supported accommodation and employment, giving them a better quality of life. The charity is celebrating it’s 10th birthday this year.
The Unity League football team is just one part of the support that Hope gives it’s residents; they have an in house gym, regular yoga and mindfulness sessions as well as training and educational programmes, designed to equip residents and help them to move forward with their lives.
Julie Berti, CEO of Hope Housing said:
“We are so proud of the team. They have worked really hard this season and to see them win the league is fantastic. They have all made commendable progress since they came to Hope. They have exhibited a strong recovery, engaged with our support and are looking after their health and fitness which is having a knock on effect in all areas of their lives.”