Homeless charity keeping people fed for 20 years

A homelessness charity has been making a difference for 20 years in Bournemouth.

We Are Humans has been helping solve the homeless crisis in Bournemouth by giving out fresh food, drink, clothes sleeping bags and tents every weekend in the town from 2pm till 3pm.

Andrew Talbot, 55, started his charity in 2017 with money from selling the Big Issue.

He then used the money to buy the reduced fruit and veg from supermarkets and make soup for other homeless people.

Over recent years, Bournemouth has seen a sharp increase in homelessness and rough sleeping. According to local charities and council data, there has been a 25% increase in rough sleepers in 2023.

Andrew said, “There are no tick boxes, we don’t ask questions. We treat people like people.”

We Are Humans is working tirelessly to provide both short- term and long-term solutions for those affected. “I promised myself once I got myself sorted, I would make a change,” Andy said.

We Are Humans has a base operation in Boscombe that has events every day every week to make sure everyone gets the help they need.

 

Some events are homeless kitchen, kids and parents breakfast club and community café. All are free of charge to ensure everyone is looked after.

 

A few years ago they became a registered charity which allowed them to get more volunteers.

Andrew has three jobs, one of which is a property manager where he has housed 70 people in affordable housing which benefits pay for.

He appeared in a YouTube video that went viral with over 200,000 views with Joe Fish which they discussed the homeless issue in Bournemouth.

A couple that appeared in the video, Kathy Lyon, 35, and Jamel Hakeem-Lyon, 37, attended the Monday homeless kitchen and said, “Thanks to the YouTube video we did, we are now in temporary accommodation.”

Kathy who is 22 weeks pregnant added “we were in a two-man tent but when we met Andy, he gave us an eight-man tent as soon as possible”.

“He actually cares about us; we have a good relationship with him.” Jamel said.

The couple now also volunteer to help with the charity as they want to give back to the community.

Karen Ralph, welfare officer, emphasised that We Are Humans’ “five-year end game is to not be needed anymore” as “one charity cannot hold together a whole community.”