About Us

Open House is a drop in community project which offers a range of free services and support to anyone in Shaftesbury and the surrounding area.The project was launched in May 2015 and since then has helped over 700 families and individuals.

Whether you are in need of advice, emergency food aid or simply someone to talk to, you will receive a warm welcome from our team of volunteers, all within a friendly, coffee shop style environment.

You can visit Open House at Fathers House church every Tuesday between 10am - 2pm.

No appointment is necessary. 

This project was conceived out of a belief that everyone is created and loved by God. We have seen people in Shaftesbury suffering as a result of poverty and want to be able to help them, and that is why the churches of Shaftesbury have come together to form Open House Shaftesbury, as an expression of God’s love.

Open House is open to ALL - those who have faith and those who have none, those who need support and those who simply need encouragement or a chat.

For more information about all the free services that we can provide and where to find us please follow the links at the top of the page.

Who’s Who…

  • Nikki Hall - Project Manager

    I have been in this role since December 2020 and it’s the best job ever, and certainly the most rewarding. It is fantastic to be part of an organisation that helps people, where we are truly making a difference in their lives. The team that I work with are amazing, all dedicated individuals, with different talents and who all want the best for Open House and the clients that visit.

    I love meeting the public and sharing their ‘life's journey’, and helping them when they reach out to us. My job is different every day, from ensuring the smooth running of our Open Fridge project, writing newsletters, chairing meetings and making sure our volunteers are happy!  

  • Iris Phillips - Administrator

    After volunteering here for a few weeks, I was offered the position as Open House Administrator, which basically involves supporting Nikki in all aspects of running Open House. Accepting this position has been one of the best decisions in my life! I love meeting people and being able to make a positive difference in so many lives is incredibly rewarding - as is working with Nikki and our fantastic team of volunteers!

Trustees
We have a great team of trustees who oversee the running of the charity. The current trustees are as follows:

Andrew Baddeley
Alan Kirkham
Sheela Upton
Helen Jupp
Gordon Clowrey

Core Team
We also have a core team who oversee the day-to-day aspects of Open House. These are currently the following:

Nikki Hall
Helen Beecham
Iris Phillips
Andrew Baddeley
Diana McConaghy
Chris Hargrave


And over 40 volunteers, which includes representatives from all of the churches in Shaftesbury.