THE Bridport Foyer is getting a new lease of life.

A public outcry followed the announcement earlier this year that the 17 vulnerable youngsters living there would be moved out and the West Rivers House building closed when the budget for running the service was cut and providers YouTrust pulled out.

Bournemouth Churches Housing Trust took over the contract but it said there wasn’t enough money to keep the Foyer going.

It was proposed to put youngsters into private rented homes backed by support.

Crisis talks followed and now the building is to retain a community use and have accommodation for seven youngsters and homeless families, as well as an IT training centre.

The new facilities will be on show on Monday, November 11.

The building, which has been partly refurbished, will now provide seven units of young people’s supported housing provided by BCHA, two flats for temporary accommodation of homeless families provided by West Dorset District Council, the Oh Crumbs cafe for adults with learning difficulties, which is run by Dorset County Council and an IT room and a training room for rent to groups training adults and young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) Mandy Goodenough, head of children, young people and families at BCHA, said: “We are pleased that through strong partnership working we have been able to find a solution which enables West Rivers House to remain open and continue to support the vulnerable people of Bridport. This positive outcome has enabled a range of organisations to use West Rivers House to deliver valuable resources to the community of Bridport.”

Jez Morris, head of housing for Magna, which owns the building, said: “We are delighted to have been able to work with our key partners in this venture. The future of West Rivers House had been in jeopardy but the agreement provides a much needed boost for Bridport as well as securing the building's use.”

Coun Ros Kayes, Bridport County and District Councillor and a director of community training initiative Skills Training Bridport, said: "This is one of those occasions when pooling resources really comes together to make the building work.

“People were really scared that this valuable facility would go – and it's an example of how providers working together can find new ways of delivering services in a cost effective way.

“I can't thank all those involved enough – especially Magna Housing, who desperately wanted to keep the building open, BCHA who went out of their way to adapt their previous plans because they understood the importance of the building to the local community, and WDDC who were prepared to take up some of the space to provide accommodation for homeless people, which adds to their existing accommodation in Dorchester.

“They were all prepared to listen to me when I asked for their help and to go the extra mile in terms of keeping the facility open, as were Dorset County Council. I know that the message from the community of Bridport will be a resounding thank you to all involved.”