Hello Plymouth. Last week I spent an afternoon visiting Shekinah’s new premises at Stonehouse Creek.  

The building offers a multipurpose space for the people of Plymouth to share and enjoy, whilst facilitating the broad range of services Shekinah provides. When it’s completed the new location will offer a wide range of services, including skills training and employment services, health promotion, education, housing advice, medical and mental health support, counselling and a learning exchange. 

This project has exciting potential, and I am really looking forward to seeing the community coming together to build, decorate and enjoy this building. Many thanks to John Hamblin and the team for taking the time to give me a tour and sharing the plans for the building and the future for Shekinah. 

Low availability of housing, high private rental costs and the gap between local housing allowances and rent has seen shamefully high rates of homelessness in our city. Shekinah is supporting the people of Plymouth at a critical time as more people are being pushed into vulnerable and unsustainable housing arrangements.  

The new premises not only offers more space for Shekinah, but also unlocks Bath Street, which will result in more affordable homes for local people in the future.  

I look forward to following Shekinah on their journey to bring this disused space back into the community.