Our Impact
As an organisation our mission is to improve health and wellbeing for adults with complex needs primarily those who are homeless and rough sleeping.
Video by New Fruit Productions
Our mission
Our mission is to improve health and wellbeing for adults, some with complex needs, primarily those who are rurally homeless and rough sleeping.
Who we help
Our primary target beneficiaries are homeless people and those at risk of homelessness. However we also intend to be of benefit to:
People experiencing long term unemployment
People living in poverty and financial hardship
People with addiction issues
People with learning disabilities
People with mental health needs
Ex-offenders
People who have experienced crime or abuse
How we help
Our community garden, vegetable box scheme and cut flower subscription help generate income and provide fresh produce while supporting Dairy House — a direct access accommodation service for people experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness.
Dairy House is not a typical hostel
Set within a thousand acres of working farmland, woodland, orchards and gardens near Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Dairy House offers a safe and supportive residential environment where people can begin rebuilding their lives.
The project takes a holistic approach to recovery, combining person-centred support, therapeutic activities, community living and practical skills development. Together with partner agencies and volunteers, we help residents work towards sustainable housing pathways and a positive future.
A community built around belonging
Life at Dairy House is centred around community. Residents cook and eat together, take part in shared activities and develop skills through meaningful work and creativity.
Activities include:
gardening and growing food
pottery and creative arts
woodwork
outdoor and farm-based activities
Through these experiences, residents have the opportunity to build confidence, develop new skills and reconnect with themselves and others.
The power of the farm environment
Many people experiencing homelessness in Somerset have become isolated from traditional support networks. Dairy House provides a gentler transition — offering space, nature and community while residents prepare for their next steps.
The farm environment creates opportunities for people to contribute, learn and feel valued. Residents are not simply receiving support; they become active members of a community.
Our Story
Connect Community Trust was created through a partnership between Mendip District Council, Addicott Partners (Manor Farm) and the Connect Centre. Together, they launched Dairy House in 2015 with a vision of creating a different kind of homelessness support service.
The community house model was developed by Suzanne Addicott, inspired by her experience working with a pioneering community house project in Hong Kong with St Stephen’s Society, founded by Jackie Pullinger.
In 2018, the Connect Centre secured funding from Somerset Community Foundation to establish a Community Interest Company (CIC), ensuring that all profits are reinvested into work supporting people experiencing homelessness.
Today, Dairy House continues through the partnership between Connect Community Trust, providing the support, opportunities and community needed to help residents move towards a more independent future. Our community garden veg box scheme and cut flower subscription provides us with income and food to support Daisy House, the direct access hostel for anyone who is experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness.
Beneficiary stories
“While I was a resident at Dairy House, Root Connections was starting and I have really enjoyed being involved in the project since it’s early days.
In many ways it has helped me massively with my confidence and self worth, I feel I have a safe place to go where I can have an input in an idea and it’s put into practice, and also learn a lot from the many different volunteers as everybody has different levels of gardening and vegetable growing.
I find it gives me something to look forward to on a Friday as a volunteer and while I was resident it helped my physical and mental health a great deal.
It really good to see the group working and learning together and being able to teach each other things, everybody has an input about how to push the project and help it grow.
My previous life was massively different, this project has been really positive for me and been a key part in helping me turn things around and gain new skills and knowledge in something positive and constructive, such a reward when eating the vegetables we have all worked hard to grow.”
How you can help
There are plenty of ways to help us increase our impact.