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.

Our Impact

At Hope Housing, Training & Support Ltd, we believe that homelessness is about far more than a lack of housing. Many of the people we support are facing complex challenges including addiction, poor mental health, trauma, physical health issues and social isolation. Through our person-centred approach, we help individuals rebuild stability, improve wellbeing and move towards greater independence.

Over the last year, we provided supported accommodation to 182 people experiencing homelessness and vulnerability. We received 442 referrals, completed 341 assessments, and worked alongside more than 250 agencies and organisations to ensure residents received the support they needed.

Our dedicated counselling service delivered 481 sessions, helping residents address underlying issues, improve emotional wellbeing and build healthier futures. Alongside this, residents engaged in hundreds of activities, workshops and personal development opportunities designed to increase confidence, reduce isolation and promote recovery.

For those affected by addiction, 89 residents maintained their recovery, while 27 residents successfully moved on into independent accommodation. A further 58 residents sustained their recovery and accommodation for three months or more without significant issues, demonstrating the positive impact of consistent, person-centred support.

We are particularly proud that there were no incidents of reoffending among residents during their stay, highlighting the wider social benefits of providing stability, support and opportunities for change.

Behind every statistic is a person rebuilding their life. Our aim is not simply to provide accommodation, but to restore hope, promote wellbeing and empower people to create lasting, positive futures.

Rebuilding Lives. Restoring Hope. Creating Futures.