Our Impact 2024/ 2025
The stories behind the headlines
Welcome
This year, we've supported more people than ever before.
This is a reflection of both our team dedication and the growing challenges in society.
Rough sleeping is at its highest in a decade, prisons are overcrowded, and early release policies are failing. Domestic abuse remains the country’s most prevalent crime, with police responding to a call every 30 seconds.
Behind these statistics are real people. This report shares the human stories behind the homelessness and housing crises, highlighting those who are struggling and the vital support we provide.
But this is just a snapshot: our teams are working across a far wider range of services than we can cover here.
We’re not only focused on the present, we’re also planning for the future. Our strategy aims to adapt to a world that often feels increasingly hostile to those who are at risk and isolated.
Despite the challenges, we remain hopeful. Our experience shows that people care and want to help. With the continued support of our partners, volunteers, and community, we are committed to reaching those behind the headlines and making a lasting difference.
-Helen Bedser, Chief Executive
Julian House offers people in crisis a route to something better.
Our clients come to us with a range of experiences and trauma behind them. Our job is to help them get back on track and take the next steps towards independence and security.
We recognise there are many routes to homelessness and social exclusion, so we deliver services which support people wherever they are in their journey – some of which you can read about in this report.
With almost half of our team having first-hand experience of the challenges our clients face, we know that there is no one-size-fits-all or quick-fix solution.
Our person-centred and trauma-informed approach means that every client gets the support they need to take positive steps forward in their life – what ever their start point - whatever their destination.
Taking the first step off the streets
Official government snapshot figures show that the number of people rough sleeping across the South West rose by 8% in 2024.
Our hostel was full, with a waiting list, all year, running at 115% capacity – with all 20 pods filled and sit-up beds consistently in use to offer a few more people a bed each night.
That’s why we are determined to secure the future of this vital service when the lease on our current site on Manvers Street ends in 2026. We are working with Bath & North East Somerset Council to find an alternative site and confirm long-term funding for this life-saving provision – and hope to be able to provide a positive update to our supporters soon.
Meet Hamish*: From arriving in the emergency shelter on a freezing December night to living independently in a new home with his loyal dog, Winnie.
Seeking a fresh start after prison
In 2024/25 the government introduced an emergency early release scheme for low-risk offenders to relieve overcrowding. While necessary, releasing individuals without stable housing or support puts them at immediate risk of homelessness and ultimately, re-offending.
Homelessness is a key cause of re-offending, straining an already broken system. We believe a safe home is the first step to real change.
Our services provide stability and support for prison leavers, helping them move toward employment, independence, and lasting recovery.
Meet Pixie: Breaking the cycle through supporting prison leavers
“It’s not about giving people a second chance, some of these people never had a chance in the first place. If we can support people to end the negative cycle of offending, being released, re-offending and then going back inside, we can benefit the prison service, but ultimately, it will benefit the country as a whole.”
Finding safety in our refuges
Police in the UK respond to a domestic violence incident every 30 seconds; making it their most frequent call-out.
The individuals in our domestic abuse refuges have often left behind everything they know; homes, relationships - and long-standing routines, to escape abuse. Victims may have endured physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, or coercive control.
But the moment of leaving is often the most dangerous. Abusers may escalate their behaviour when they sense their control is slipping, making this a time of heightened risk.
Our domestic abuse teams understand these risks and the emotional complexity of leaving an abuser. They know that choosing to leave is never a simple decision.
Our refuges offer more than just safety.
They provide tailored support, helping victims regain control, rebuild confidence, and begin to create the future they choose; for themselves and their families.
With the right care, victims become survivors, equipped to move forward with strength and hope.
Meet Nayani*: Building her confidence through having a secure and stable home after arriving at our refuge with her family.
Building a new life as a refugee
Since 2022, Julian House has partnered with South Gloucestershire Council to deliver the Homes for Ukraine scheme, helping refugees fleeing war find safety, stability, and a fresh start in the South West.
As the war continues, many Ukrainians still face challenges like insecure housing, job barriers, and lack of support – leaving them at risk to exploitation.
Our work goes beyond simply finding accommodation. Through dedicated resettlement support, our local team offers guidance, advocacy, and a lifeline to those navigating their new, unknown environment.
This work is critical in preventing homelessness and safeguarding refugees’ wellbeing.
In a climate of uncertainty, Julian House stands as a trusted presence, helping ensure that sanctuary in the UK does not come at the cost of safety or dignity.
Meet Rob: running from Kingswood to Kyiv (virtually) to raise money and awareness for life-changing work.
"It's a long way but with every step, I'll help support people fleeing conflict and crisis as they rebuild their lives in safety and dignity, from translation services to vital English lessons support for women with children."
Living off the grid with dignity
Prejudice against travelling communities has sadly become one of the last socially accepted forms of discrimination in England. Julian House is determined to challenge this head-on.
These communities face ongoing barriers to education, healthcare, and employment, often leading to isolation and risk of abuse and neglect.
At Julian House, our dedicated outreach team actively works to break down these barriers. Winding their way through the waterways and travelling sites of Bath & North East Somerset and Wiltshire, they connect with people who are too often excluded from the support and rights that most of us take for granted.
By building trust and offering practical help, we empower at risk people in these communities to navigate the challenges they face, helping them overcome the obstacles standing in their way and maintain a safe, secure home; wherever they are.
Meet David*: Receiving ongoing support from our teams to access health services to monitor his serious heart condition.
