Emergency Help and Support

Help and Support Including Homelessness – essential local contacts if you find yourself in need of support and advice

Food and clothing support and welcome spaces winter 2026

Information Sheet showing various Bridport organisations that offer food and clothing help and support for free or for a small donation, including welcoming spaces. This is updated every month.

Flooding

Reporting of flooding is crucial for incident response and also for long term planning of flood risk reduction measures. If you have been impacted by flooding but it has not been reported, then the relevant authorities may not be aware of what has occurred.

In an emergency, if there is a risk to life, report flooding to 999.

Bridport Town Council has a number of Flood Wardens who can assist residents during a flood. We also have a supply of sand bags – please call the office on 01308 456722 to arrange collection.

After a flood event, please give details of flooding at your property to ensure the Dorset Council Flood Risk Management team are aware and can build up a picture of the situation. This enables them to plan future engineering works to alleviate flooding problems.  https://floodreport.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/

Homelessness

If you see someone sleeping rough the best place to report it is StreetLink – Connecting people sleeping rough to local services

StreetLink itself doesn’t provide accommodation or go out to search for individuals — it connects members of the public with local outreach teams who can help.

  • Dorset Council
Free advice and assistance if you become homeless due to losing your home or being asked to leave. If Dorset Council cannot prevent a household from becoming homeless, they may have a duty to provide temporary accommodation. Open Mon-Fri 9am –5pm. Phone: 01305 221000 Web: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/homelessness-advice-and-assistance Email: [email protected] Customer Access Point: Bridport Library, South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NY Open Mon – Friday 

Homeless Outreach Teams

  • Alongside (formally known as Julian House)
Assertive Outreach Team who go onto the streets of West Dorset, Weymouth, Portland to help people off the streets. Referrals also through Street Link. Phone: 01305 236585 Address: The Lantern, 2, Ranelagh Road, Weymouth, DT4 7JD Web: www.alongsidecharity.org.uk Email: [email protected]
  •   Shelter
Providing housing advice for those who are homeless or at risk of homeless and supporting those who are struggling with housing. Phone: 0808 800 4444 (8am-5pm Mon-Fri) Web: www.england.shelter.org.uk
  • Dorset Nightstop

For young single homeless people aged between 16-25. You will stay with volunteer host families on a night by night basis, who will provide you with a private room, food, washing facilities, and a listening ear if required. Dorset Nightstop | Action For Children

Phone: 01202 525643 Mon – Thurs 10-4 and Fri 10-3. Email: [email protected]
  • Bridport & District Citizen’s Advice
Free, confidential and impartial advice on a range of topics including benefits, debt, housing, employment, relationship breakdown, family issues, consumer immigration, health, and court issues. Open Mon, Tues & Thurs from 10am – 3pm, and Weds & Fri 10am-1pm. Phone: 0800 144 8848 Address: 45, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NY Website: www.bridportca.org.uk

Food Provision

  • The Bridport Food Bank
Open to all in need for an emergency food parcel. Continuing use of the service will require a referral for from one of our 20 associated referring agencies. Open 11am-1pm every Wednesday at St Mary’s Church. Also open Monday from 5pm – 6.30pm. Phone: 07443 596096 Address: St Mary’s Church, 56A, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NN Web: www.bridportfoodbank.org Email: [email protected]
  • Bridport Community Kitchen
Open to anyone who needs a hot meal. Offers a variety of free homemade soup and/or meals, tea, coffee and cake. Open Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am with lunch served from 12noon – 2.00pm. Phone: 01308 478791 Address: Beacon Church, Priory Lane, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3RW  Web: www.beaconchurchbridport.co.uk/
Email: [email protected]
  • Bridport Food Stall
Providing free (or donation) surplus food. Open to everyone and no referral is needed. Every Thursday from 9.30am – 10.00 am. Address: St Swithin’s Church car park, North Allington, Bridport, DT6 5DU. On the first Thursday of the month there is usually a cafe alongside with hot drinks and baps.

Food Provision / Clothes Provision

  • Chapel in the Garden – Bridport Community Fridge
Helping people in food poverty, open to everyone to help themselves to food. No referrals needed. Open Tuesday and Saturday from 10am—11am (or sooner if food runs out). Address: Chapel in the Garden, 49, East Street, Bridport, DT6 3JX.
Website: https://en gb.facebook.com/bridportcommunityfridge
Email:[email protected]
  • Beaminster Food Bank
Families and individuals who need to use the Food Bank do not need a referral. Open Monday 10am-12noon and Friday 10am-12noon. Phone: 07434 654652 Address: Prout Bridge Building, 6 Prout Hill, Beaminster, DT8 3AY Email: [email protected]
  • Bridport Clothes Bank
Rails of clothes are available during Bridport Food Bank and Bridport Food stall (St Swithuns) opening times. Bridport Clothes Bank Facebook page Email: [email protected]

Organisations/Groups/Charities

  • Pilsdon Community
Pilsdon Community Offering a place of welcome and refuge to people of all backgrounds and circumstances whose lives are in crisis, as a result of mental illness, addiction, relationship breakdown or homelessness. Also offers hospitality to wayfarers and the homeless. The community is strictly alcohol and drug free. The Community is a place in which living and working alongside others enable people to give and receive support in a safe environment. Phone: 01308 868308 Address: The Pilsdon Community, Pilsdon Manor, Pilsdon, Bridport, DT6 5NZ Web: www.pilsdon.org.uk Email: [email protected]
  • The Lantern Trust
To help and support services for vulnerable people to Improve their life. Finding the next step and giving people encouragement to move forward. A single point of contact for all support services. Address: 2, Ranelagh Road, Weymouth, DT4 7JD Phone: 01305 787940 Web: https://lanterntrust.org.uk/ Email: [email protected]
  • Bridport Community Front Room
A welcoming and safe place to speak to a mental health worker or peer specialist. No referral or appointment needed and you are welcome to bring a friend. Open Thursday – Sunday 2.15pm – 9.45pm over 18yrs only. Phone: 07385 290804 Address: Harmony, St Micheal’s Trading Estate, Unit 1 & 2, Bridport, DT6 3RR.
  • Jurassic Coast PCN— Social Prescribing Team
Social Prescribing is a supported self-management service. Clients are connected to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support to assist with specific issues and to improve overall wellbeing. Open Mon – Fri from 8.30am – 4.30pm . Phone: 01308 428943 Address: Bridport Medical Centre, West Allington, Bridport, DT6 5BN Email: [email protected]
  • Harmony Centre Drop-in

A Drop-in service is for anyone needing general support for their mental health and wellbeing, or who is feeling isolated. Always offering a warm welcome and a cuppa, a quiet space and understanding ear, or a choice of workshops and activities (arts and crafts Monday 10.30 am,  Social group Wed 10 -1 then Access Wellbeing Wed 10 – 3), Wellbeing Fridays 10 -1 which includes yoga, music etc). There is also a gardening group, Men’s board games, men’s health walk, cookery club, book club and pilates.

Services for adults only. Open Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10am. Phone: 07597 379290 Address: Harmony, St Michael’s Trading Estate, Unit 1 & 2, Bridport, DT6 3RR Web:  https://www.theharmonycentre.org.uk/
  • Domestic Violence Support—Paragon
Dorset County – Paragon integrated domestic abuse service. Paragon work with women, men and children. Free phone: 0800 032 5204. Web: https://paragonteam.org.uk/teams/dorset/
Email: [email protected]
  • First Point Dorset
Providing help to reduce homelessness, poverty, poor physical or mental health, or social isolation. Drop in sessions act as a front door to support in addition to traditional referral routes. Phone: 0330 123 2550. Drop-in session at St Mary’s Church, Bridport, DT6 3NW Wednesdays from 11am-1pm. Weymouth Information Centre, 98 St Mary Street, Weymouth, DT4 8NY Thurs-days. Web:http://theyoutrust.org.uk/tag/first-point-dorset/
  • You Trust
Providing housing related support and guidance to people over 16 years of age facing eviction, rent arrears, court action and budgeting issues. You can self-refer to the service via telephone or email, or you can be referred to the service through an agency. Phone: 01305 216230. They also have a desk at Bridport Food Bank 11-1 on a Wednesday (St Marys Church, Bridport).
Web: www.theyoutrust.org.uk Email: [email protected]
  • Age UK

Advice and information for people aged 50 plus on social care, housing options, homelessness, money, and benefits Phone: 01305 269444 / 0800 678 1602 Web: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/housing-options/homelessness/ Email: [email protected]

 

• Reach Drug & Alcohol Services. Support for people to address drug and alcohol misuse, mental ill health and improve their health and wellbeing. Working in the South West across Dorset and Devon in the community and within prisons. Hubs are located in Weymouth, Gillingham and Wimborne. Weymouth Hub open Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm. Phone: 0800 043 4656 Address: Weymouth Coffee Tavern, 24, High West Street, Weymouth, DT4 8JH Web: www.edp.org.uk/reach

Back To Top