A landmark £5 million partnership project is set to overhaul how Folkestone supports its most vulnerable residents. The move comes as local homelessness has doubled in just two years.
The Folkestone Rainbow Centre and the Folkestone Methodist Church are joining forces to build a purpose-built, year-round facility on Sandgate Road. Plans involve tearing down the current Methodist Church to make room for a modern hub. This new centre aims to provide what organisers call a “pathway to hope” for people facing desperate times.
This development arrives as local charities and leaders struggle with a massive spike in demand. Currently, 115 households are stuck in temporary accommodation across the district. At the same time, four neighbourhoods in Folkestone have fallen into the top 10 per cent for deprivation in England.
A “one-stop” shop for local hardship
The new building will act as a central base for services that used to be spread across different sites. By putting everything under one roof, the project hopes to offer a sense of stability for those in extreme poverty.
The proposed hub will include:
- A permanent emergency shelter open 365 days a year.
- Showers and laundry facilities for those on the streets.
- A community food pantry providing hot meals.
- On-site healthcare, including dental services.
Dr Peter Le Feuvre, who leads the Rainbow Centre trustees, says the town needs this centre urgently. He pointed out that the mix of high homelessness and social neglect has reached a tipping point. Dr Le Feuvre believes the partnership gives people a real chance to rebuild lives of “stability, dignity, and hope.”
Why “community” is the cure
For the South Kent Methodist Circuit, replacing their historic building was a choice rooted in service. Reverend Adrian Roux, the superintendent minister, described the project as a clear example of what happens when people work together.
“The opposite of poverty is not prosperity,” Reverend Roux explained. “The opposite of poverty is community.” He hopes the new space becomes a place where “healing and hope” are tangible for those society often ignores.
Moving away from seasonal help
The project builds on the work of the Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter. Since 2009, this group has relied on 200 volunteers to offer beds during the coldest months.
However, moving to a permanent home changes the game. It shifts the town from a reactive, winter-only system to a proactive, year-round safety net. Help will now be available no matter what the weather looks like.
A town of two halves
Earlier this year, the Sunday Times named Folkestone the “Best Place to Live in the South East.” But project leaders say this title hides a growing gap in the community.
Local data shows a shocking ten-year difference in life expectancy between the richest and poorest wards. Child poverty has also hit 19.1 per cent. The Rainbow Centre is turning 40 this year, and its workload has never been heavier. It now manages six foodbank sites with the help of 350 volunteers.
Council spending £5m on temporary housing
As the charity hub moves forward, Folkestone & Hythe District Council is launching its own £5 million plan.
The council has agreed to buy at least 20 properties to use as temporary housing. They want to stop relying on expensive private hotels and B&Bs, which drain public funds. By owning the buildings, the council can ensure families in crisis have a decent “sanctuary” rather than a cramped hotel room.
Focusing on prevention
Council leaders remain frustrated by the high cost of emergency housing. Deputy Leader Tim Prater argued that owning their own stock gives the council more control.
Meanwhile, Cllr Rebecca Shoob, who oversees housing, stressed that the real goal is to stop people from losing their homes in the first place. The council plans to focus more on early help to keep residents in their current properties.
A long history of helping
The Rainbow Centre started 40 years ago as a joint project between local churches. In 2022, it won the title of Kent’s overall Charity of the Year.
Knocking down the church on Sandgate Road marks a massive shift for both the congregation and the charity. As the builders move in, both groups have promised to keep an “open door” policy. They are determined to make sure that as Folkestone changes, no one is left behind in the shadows.
