Dairy House

Dairy house is a direct access hostel for anyone who is experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness.

Connect Community Church Direct Access Community (DAC) is an innovative project forged out of a partnership between Mendip District Council, Addicott Partners (Manor Farm) and Elim Connect Centre which launched in 2015.

Since the service began in 2015, we have supported more than 250 people out of homelessness - a really positive outcome considering many of the people we work with have experienced the revolving door of homelessness for years.

Dairy House (DAC) is not a typical Direct Access Hostel!

Set within a thousand acres of explorable farmland, woodland, orchards and gardens, the Dairy House offers a 12-week residential placement for citizens of Somerset (Mendip Priority) who are either rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping. The program takes a wholistic approach to recovery, employing therapeutic interventions alongside community living and person-centred support work, so as to find sustainable housing pathways for its residents. Support services are further augmented by volunteers and pro-active partnerships with outside agencies

The accommodation is in an idyllic cottage at the heart of working farm near Stratton-on-the-Fosse. The rural location provides up to of 2000 acres of explorable farmland, woodland, orchards, and gardens. The majority of people sleeping rough in Somerset are self-isolating, living outside of the built-up areas – DAC offers a softer transition from this lifestyle.

In addition to the services, you would expect from a Direct Access service in terms of pro-actively working through a support plan, DAC operates as a community house. This has been spearheaded by Suzanne Addicott who worked in a pioneering community house project in Hong Kong with St Stephens Society, started by Jackie Pullenger

The residents cook and eat together and engage in a number of structured activities including art, woodwork, pottery, animal care and gardening with our partner project “Root Connections”. Residents also get to engage with recovery work through counselling, relapse prevention and other groups. This approach is focussed on a wholistic preparation for the next steps after leaving the farm.

The service accepts referrals for people who are experiencing roughs sleeping or homelessness in Somerset.

For more information about Diary House please call 01749 677097 or email Dylan.sawyer@connect-centre.org.uk

Root Connections CIC

Connect has a closely linked partnership with Root Connections CIC. A Community Interest Company based in Stratton on the Fosse and all profits are directed to the Dairy House to help deliver a sustainable future for the project. Roots sell veggie boxes and flowers and you can have them delivered to your door. Please email sue.crossbourton@rootconnections.co.uk for more information about this project and if you would like to volunteer.

The Woodwork Shed

Recently the guys have started to make things out of recycled wood to sell as part of their meaningful time. We sell these products every Friday or you can contact us through our Facebook Page!