31 January 2025

“A place where people can be themselves”: How The Bridge is transforming lives across Elmbridge.

The Bridge, a community space opened by Walton Charity in 2023, is benefitting people across Elmbridge, according to a recent report.

Walton Charity’s community space, The Bridge, is offering holistic support to the significant benefit of clients in both the short-and-long-term, a report published today has found. Analysis revealed that 72% of Bridge clients no longer need external support after ending their engagement, with their lives in a more stable place than when they before coming.

The Bridge was set up in March 2023 as a community space in central Walton-on-Thames, offering practical support for people and families across Elmbridge. The pilot aimed to help working families struggling with the rising cost of living, offering breathing space and a helping hand for a time-limited period. The Bridge offers a dignified shopping experience for families, alongside tailored services to address the wider issues they may be facing. In the words of a client, “it’s there to be a bridge during your hardest times”.

In the first nine months after opening, around 90 members of the local community accessed The Bridge at least once. Feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive, with those interviewed reporting benefits including an increased sense of self-worth, improvements in diet, and reduced anxieties. One client noted that access to The Bridge “meant that I could eat decent food when I couldn’t afford it”, easing the gap between paycheques. Another found that the homely interior made them look forward to visits: “it’s this lovely bright space and it’s almost like a cafe […] it’s a nice experience”.

Rob Mills, Chief Executive at Walton Charity, said:

“Our vision for The Bridge is to help those who have nowhere else to turn. The Under the Radar report that we commissioned in 2022 showed us that it is working families in Elmbridge who are really struggling, with 75% of children living in poverty locally coming from working families”.

“The Bridge has successfully reached out to [working] families to give a helping hand when they need it most. The success of the pilot is due to the people involved: partners, funders, staff and volunteers, but most importantly the individuals and their families that have been coming to The Bridge over the past year. By offering a beautiful space and more control over the food they choose, families have taken the opportunity The Bridge has provided to get back on their feet and access the support they need at this point in their lives”.

The Impact and learning from The Bridge in Walton-on-Thames evaluation report has been published by Walton Charity. For further information, please contact communications@waltoncharity.org.uk