JUST a year after it found itself on the street, Oxford homeless charity the Gatehouse Project has secured its future by raising £175,000 for new premises.

In March last year, the Gatehouse was rocked when it was given notice to quit its base at Northgate Hall, in St Michael’s Street off Cornmarket.

Determined the much-needed service would continue, Gatehouse project director Andrew Smith and his team of trustees found a home at the St Giles’ Church Parish Rooms in Woodstock Road.

They launched the Moving Home appeal to raise the cash needed to refurbish the building.

Mr Smith, 62, said: “It has been a challenging year, but we are delighted to say that with a great many people’s help, and in less than a year, we have reached our ambitious target and are here and open six evenings a week.”

For the last 24 years, the charity has been a lifeline for homeless and badly housed people, offering food and a warm welcome to more than 80 people each night.

In 2003 it was named one of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award winners and appeared in the background to the Queen’s Christmas Broadcast to the nation.

Mr Smith added: “Some people said our fundraising target was over-ambitious and we might even have over-stretched ourselves. Even those who know a little about these things seemed nervous. Whereas I, probably naively, didn’t doubt we would reach the target.

“But it is quite astonishing really, and it has been down to an amazing array of supporters – from one homeless lady who gave us a pound, to the trusts which have been enormously helpful, and the churches of Eynsham who staged a whole year of events for us. We cannot thank everyone enough.”

The money has enabled the Gatehouse Project to transform the church hall into a bright, modern meeting place, with a kitchen, office, and disabled access.

Mr Smith said: “Our guests tell us this is a place of calm and they can feel some of the tensions of living on the street lift when they enter. It’s also like a homecoming because St Giles was where the Gatehouse started out.”

He added: “Our many volunteers are thrilled with the place and we are now looking forward to using the space to build on our current activities; adding to the art club and computer club we already hold here, aswell as creating a great outdoor space.

“There’s still work to do but the Gatehouse is still very much here for the people who need it.”