The Genesis Trust, the Bath charity supporting vulnerable people to overcome poverty and hardship, is to transform a building in Walcot Street into a sophisticated upcycled furniture shop, training centre and offices.
They charity is being supporting by Bath & North East Somerset Council, which is securing a community asset transfer of the building – next to the Bell Pub – to the trust and so giving it a permanent home in the city.
The Genesis Trust, now based in South Parade, was set up in Bath 20 years ago and today helps both homeless and vulnerable people in the city through nine different projects.
It runs Bath Foodbank, a nightly soup run and two other projects providing hot meals to people. It also provides practical advice, emotional support and educational courses to help clients move on with their lives into housing and ultimately the job market.
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s cabinet member for resources, Cllr David Bellotti, said: “Over the years, the Genesis Trust has moved from place to place. The council understands that with a permanent location the trust will be able to provide much better services for local people.”
Genesis Trust chair of trustees Sir Peter Heywood added: “We are looking forward to having a presence on Walcot Street. We want the building to be a training and creative hub for our clients. It will also provide a much-needed base for our fundraising and administrative staff as they are presently in various locations across the city.
“Although Genesis is a charity, the commercial aspect of the new building will not be a charity shop. It will be a social enterprise which we hope will attract sophisticated shoppers to a homeware store in keeping with the artistic environment of Bath’s artisan quarter. The shop will be staffed mainly by clients who are trying to get back into the job market, providing them with valuable work experience.”
Pictured from left: Council leader Paul Crossley, Michelle Williams of the Genesis Trust, Cllr David Bellotti and Sir Peter Heywood of Genesis Trust
