The Bishop of Bedford, the Rt Revd Richard Atkinson, has opened a new £15.2 million YMCA campus this week in Welwyn Garden City, providing accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness.
Bishop Richard attended the dedication of the new Peartree Campus in his role as Chair of One YMCA, a charity centred in Hertfordshire and also working across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The four‑storey development offers accommodation for 100 people and replaces a former YMCA hostel on the site which was opened in 1967 by the then Bishop of St Albans, Michael Gresford Jones.
The dedication service included the original prayer from 1967 and was led by the Revd Paul Seymour, Vicar of Panshanger, who previously served as chaplain to the original hostel.
The new campus provides a range of accommodation to meet different needs, including 81 rooms with basic meal provision, 35 self‑contained rooms with shared kitchen facilities, and eight fully self‑contained rooms. There is also emergency accommodation available for up to three nights through four council‑funded beds, with flexibility for short extensions where appropriate. Longer‑term residents can stay for up to 18 months.
Alongside safe and secure accommodation, residents are supported by a team of five specialist support workers and volunteers. Support includes help with resettlement, mental health, and issues related to drug and alcohol use, as well as recreational activities designed to build social skills. Chaplaincy services are also available, alongside tailored support for people with complex needs.
One YMCA works closely with local authorities across Hertfordshire, as well as with out‑of‑area councils, the prison service and probation service, to support people at risk of homelessness or leaving institutional settings.
The Peartree Campus forms part of a wider regeneration scheme agreed in 2021. Adjacent land will be used to deliver 40 new council homes in Welwyn Garden City, comprising 18 two‑bedroom and 22 one‑bedroom flats, all of which have received full planning permission. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has described the combined development as a project that will deliver lasting benefits for local residents and those most in need.
Bishop Richard said the opening of the new campus marked a significant moment for One YMCA and for the local community, continuing a legacy of Christian service on the site that stretches back nearly 60 years, while providing modern, high‑quality facilities for those facing homelessness today.
