Taunton Open Door Charity

Newsletter Autumn 2025

Bell Tower safe and watertight

We are most grateful to all of our supporters who helped us raise over £50,000 towards the Open Door Roof Appeal. Anyone driving through Taunton recently will have seen the impressive scaffolding stretching up to the Bell Tower of our Support Centre.

With funds from the appeal and designated funds from the Charity’s reserves we have been able to carry out essential repair work to make the Bell Tower safe and watertight for the next 100 years.

Autumn Appeal

Our recent focus has been on raising funds to repair the building we work in. This has placed increased pressure on the Charity to raise the £150,000 we need each year to keep the Open Door Support Centre open and delivering its vital services to people sleeping rough in Taunton.

We have to raise 80% of our funding from individual donations and external grants. Please support the day-to-day running of Open Door through our website. It is very simple to make a one-off donation or you could set up a regular donation via the Charites Aid Foundation. Donating via the CAF platform allows us to collect 25% extra free of charge when you agree to Gift Aid.

Donate to The Open Door @ CAF

All donations will be used to provide hot food, clothing, access to hot showers and a laundry facility for rough sleepers in Taunton over the next 6 months.

Volunteering at Open Door is very rewarding

At Open Door our amazing team of volunteers provide over 5,000 hours of volunteer time to the Charity every year. Whilst their work is so important to the clients it is wonderful to hear that volunteering at Open Door also has a big impact on the lives of our volunteers. Here is some recent feedback about their experience.

"Not only do we meet, work with and make lovely friends with other like-minded volunteers we also meet and get to know clients who, in addition to wanting a hot meal, clean clothes and a shower often just need a chat."

Four volunteers enjoying sorting clothing

"Every moment spent helping someone with clothes, food, having a chat or simply sharing a warm smile is a reminder that even the smallest acts can change lives - including my own. In giving, I have found a deeper sense of purpose and connection and have learned the true meaning of anything could happen to anyone."

"...Whilst I cannot solve all the clients' problems if they leave a little happier than when they arrive, I know we have made a big difference."

"...it is a joy to see the friendship and community that develops between our clients. I gain so much by being a volunteer at Open Door."

Do you know someone interested in volunteering?

We are always looking for people to help at the Centre in a variety of ways: sorting donations, helping with the laundry, chatting to clients, preparing and serving food and drinks, DIY, tidying up and keeping everywhere organised. Any time you can give to help support our centre is gratefully received. If you’d like to know more, please send an email to info@tauntonopendoor.org.uk

Selfie from Hatty and Sue in walking gear

Volunteer fundraising

This year our volunteers have been even more active getting involved in fundraising. Two jumble sales have raised over £800, and a quiz night attended by 40 people raised over £600.

Three volunteers (Hatty, Sue and Andrew) took on the SW Coast 50 Ultra challenge, a 50km or 25km sponsored walk starting and finishing at Dunster Castle via Minehead and Dunkery Beacon. Together they raised a fantastic £3,016 pounds to help feed and clothe people rough sleeping in Taunton.

Harvest Festival donations

Did you know that every year we use over 1,000 tins of baked beans and 500 tins of tomatoes. Much of the food is donated by the community, most of which is given during the harvest festival period.

To see what we need and how to donate, please use the link below to visit our website.

Support us with food or other items

Harvest collection from Wellington Methodist Church donated to Open Door

The impact of our work

The Open Door provides an essential service to the homeless community in Taunton. The purpose of our work has always been to provide a warm, welcoming place to enjoy a hot meal, take a shower and get a change of clothes. Between the beginning of April and the end of September 2025 we have provided help to 141 separate individuals. More figures about services we provide can be found in the graph below.

We work very closely with our partners in Taunton including the Somerset Council Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) Team who help people secure temporary or permanent accommodation. We also work closely with the Somerset Homeless and Rough Sleeper Nursing Service and a local GP practice who visit The Open Door to provide medical services to our homeless clients.

Graph with figures about services to clients

Good news stories

It is always gratifying to hear about the impact of our work directly from our clients. We recently received a lovely thank you note from one of our clients. We were also pleased to get some great feedback from Richard Huish College about the way in which our staff and volunteer team has supported their students whilst on recent placement with us.

"Open Door helped me when I needed it the most. I was here every day whilst I was homeless and before long all of the lovely volunteers felt like family. Thanks to them I have finally got a place off of the streets and I can’t speak highly enough of the service. Thank you so much for your kindness." - Anonymous client

"A big thank you for supporting us. We really appreciate all the time, effort and expertise you give our students during their placements. To all of you from all of us in the Education Early Years and Health and Social Care Team." - Richard Huish College

Thank you to our supporters

We are very grateful for the recent support from Somerset County Council, Vital Salon, Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, and Asda Foundation Foodbank Fundamentals Fund.

Facebook Taunton Open Door

www.tauntonopendoor.org.uk

Copyright © 2025 Taunton Open Door - All rights reserved.

Would you like to comment or do you have a question?
Send a message to info@tauntonopendoor.org.uk

You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Taunton Open Door | 1A Mount Street | Taunton TA1 3QB
01823 271996 | www.tauntonopendoor.org.uk

Page last updated: Thursday 2nd October 2025 11:58 AM