November 2025

On Monday evening, more than 120 people gathered to celebrate the incredible achievements of Turning Tides over the past financial year. An evening filled with reflection, gratitude and hope for the future. Our Annual Meeting brought together staff, donors, supporters, volunteers, clients, councillors, the Mayor of Littlehampton, Deputy Mayor of Worthing, the High Sheriff of West Sussex and the Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Chichester to look back at a year of extraordinary impact and to share stories that remind us why our work matters so deeply.

From the very beginning, the atmosphere was one of warmth and community. Old friends greeted one another, new supporters introduced themselves and the sense of shared purpose was palpable. It was more than an event, it was a celebration of people: those who give, those who support and those who have worked hard to rebuild their lives through Turning Tides’ services.

Opening Reflections: The Power of Love, Joy and Dignity

The evening began with an uplifting address from the Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Chichester, who set the tone for what followed. He reminded us that true compassion begins with understanding our own capacity for love and dignity.

“Unless we are capable of receiving love, joy and dignity, we are unlikely to be able to give those things to others,” he said.

These words resonated deeply. They captured the essence of what Turning Tides does every single day, meeting people where they are, with empathy and respect, and helping them rediscover their worth. Homelessness is never just a lack of shelter; it’s a loss of connection, safety and belonging. Through love, joy and dignity, we help people rebuild those foundations.

A Year of Impact: Turning Tides 2024–2025 

Our Chief Executive, John Holmstrom, presented Turning Tides’ Impact Report, detailing the difference our charity made across West Sussex between April 2024 and March 2025. The numbers themselves tell a powerful story:

• 214 people housed across West Sussex
• 1,065 people supported through our services, including those accessing community hubs, recovery project, housing and outreach
• Highlight on our Community Hubs, providing lifelines for those in crisis and opportunities for reconnection

John reflected on the tireless efforts of staff and volunteers who have worked through another challenging year. With rising rents, an ongoing cost-of-living and mental health crisis and increasing pressures on local services, the demand for homelessness support continues to grow. Yet Turning Tides has remained a beacon of hope, adapting to challenges and expanding services to meet complex and changing needs.

“Every statistic represents a person, someone’s story, someone’s hope for a better future,” John reminded us. “Behind every number are moments of courage, resilience, and transformation.”

Looking ahead, John also shared Turning Tides’ exciting plans for the future, including our recent revolutionary phase of residential growth that has expanded our capacity to support even more people experiencing homelessness. Working with Adur & Worthing Councils and Worthing Homes, we have two new purpose-built buildings, which together will provide homes for 34 additional residents. These developments represent far more than bricks and mortar; they are places of safety, belonging and renewal. Over the coming years, they will offer a pathway out of homelessness for hundreds of people, helping them rebuild their lives and move forward with dignity and hope. John emphasised that this growth marks a vital step in Turning Tides’ ongoing commitment to ending local homelessness.

 

Jamie’s Story: From Homelessness to Hope

One of the most moving parts of the evening was the story of Jamie, whose life journey exemplifies the courage, resilience and transformation that Turning Tides stands for.

Jamie’s story was shared through a powerful short film with words from him in person after. He spoke honestly about the challenges and trauma that led to his homelessness, a path that many might have found impossible to recover from. But with the right support and his own hard work and determination, Jamie found his way to the Turning Tides Recovery Project.

There, surrounded by understanding staff and peers, he began the difficult journey of rebuilding his life. Slowly, he rediscovered confidence, purpose and belonging. Today, Jamie is thriving with his wonderful fiancé, a fantastic support network and a renewed sense of self-worth.

His words touched everyone in the room:

“I now have an amazing life, things to live for. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Turning Tides.”

Jamie’s honesty and courage reminded us all why this work is so vital.

Watch the video here –

 

Community Hubs: A Place to Belong

Next, Emily May presented on the invaluable work of our Community Hubs, spaces that embody the heart of Turning Tides’ mission: to create communities of care, compassion and connection.

Turning Tides’ community hubs in Worthing and Littlehampton are a vital first step for anyone experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their home. Over the past year alone, 545 people have turned to our hubs for support, accessing them a total of 7,792 times. These welcoming spaces provide not just immediate, practical help, but also a pathway to longer-term solutions that can help transform and save lives.

Emily described how the hubs have become safe, welcoming spaces for anyone facing homelessness or hardship. They offer essentials, hot breakfasts, showers, laundry facilities, clean clothes and housing advice, but their value extends far beyond practical support. They provide dignity, routine and community.

Afternoons at the hubs are filled with social enrichment groups, art clubs, gardening groups and community social sessions that are open to everyone, not just those experiencing homelessness. This inclusivity is central to our approach: breaking down stigma, bringing communities together and reminding everyone that connection heals.

The hubs are places where people are seen and heard, where small acts of kindness ripple outward into big changes.

 

An Inspiring Address: The High Sheriff’s Reflections

The evening concluded with a deeply thoughtful and inspiring speech from Dr Tim Fooks, High Sheriff of West Sussex, who shared his reflections after visiting several of our projects, including the Recovery Project in Worthing and Roffey Place.

“What an inspiring evening this has been,” he began. “Thank you to everyone who’s contributed, the staff, volunteers, trustees, and, above all, to Jamie who has shared his own story so honestly. It’s been moving, humbling and full of hope.”

Dr Fooks spoke of how his visits to Turning Tides’ services had opened his eyes to the reality of homelessness and the power of compassionate, community-led support.

“I spent thirty years as a GP, and yet I can honestly say I have learnt more about homelessness in these few visits than I did in all those years of medical practice.”

He described the humanity and dignity that runs through every aspect of Turning Tides’ work, where people are welcomed by name, listened to without judgment, and supported for as long as it takes.

“These are not impersonal services; they are communities of care,” he said. “You remind us that homelessness is never just about losing a roof, it’s about losing safety, identity, belonging.”

Dr Fooks highlighted the complex causes of homelessness: the lack of affordable housing, financial pressures, relationship breakdowns, the challenges faced by people leaving care, the forces or prison, and the impact of health and mental health struggles, often rooted in trauma or adverse childhood experiences.

He commended Turning Tides for addressing these challenges with a joined-up, holistic approach that integrates housing, health, community and support.

“Poor mental health can make it harder to maintain a tenancy or find work,” he said. “But homelessness itself, the loss, the uncertainty, the invisibility, has a profound psychological impact. Your approach recognises that housing and wellbeing cannot be separated. You help people rediscover confidence, purpose and belonging.”

Drawing on research, Dr Fooks identified three key principles that underpin successful responses to homelessness — all of which Turning Tides is already putting into practice:

1. Housing First – giving people a secure home as the foundation for everything else.
2. Wrap-around Support – combining housing with health, employment and social support.
3. Continuity at Key Transitions – ensuring people aren’t left alone when moving between prison, hospital or temporary accommodation and a new home.

He praised Turning Tides’ work as a model of “patience, compassion, and professional excellence,” acknowledging the challenges ahead — rising rents, limited housing supply, and increasing mental health needs — but affirming that our work gives real hope.

“You are proving that homelessness can be prevented, that recovery is possible, and that community can be rebuilt from the ground up,” he said.

Dr Fooks ended with a heartfelt message of gratitude and encouragement to everyone who makes Turning Tides’ mission possible:

“You are helping people move from homelessness to home, from isolation to connection, from despair to hope. You are building not only lives, but a kinder and more compassionate West Sussex.

May the inspiration of this evening stay with you during the year ahead and may Turning Tides continue to remind us all that everyone deserves a home, a future and a community that says, ‘you belong’, ‘you matter’, and even, ‘you are loved.’”

His words were met with heartfelt applause, a moment of shared pride, inspiration, and unity.

Connection & Community

As the formal presentations came to an end, guests enjoyed the opportunity to connect over refreshments and conversation. The room buzzed with energy — trustees chatting with volunteers, supporters meeting staff and local councillors speaking with clients who had benefited from Turning Tides’ support.

It was a fitting end to an evening dedicated to togetherness. For Turning Tides, community isn’t an abstract idea, it’s the heartbeat of everything we do. From our outreach work on the streets to the safe spaces of our hubs, every interaction, every smile, every shared moment of humanity is part of building a community where everyone belongs.

 

Looking Ahead

The Annual Meeting wasn’t just a chance to celebrate achievements; it was also a reminder of the challenges still ahead. Rising homelessness, the national housing crisis and increasing mental health needs mean that Turning Tides’ work is more vital than ever.

But the evening also reaffirmed something powerful: hope thrives where compassion leads. Every story of recovery, every act of kindness, every volunteer hour, every donation contributes to real, lasting change.

As John Holmstrom said during his presentation: “Our mission continues – to end local homelessness. Together, we can make it happen.”

 

Thank You

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us. To the Rt Revd Lord Bishop of Chichester, Dr Tim Fooks, our dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, supporters, local councillors, mayors and clients. Your presence made the evening truly special.