THE boss of a city homeless charity is set to retire after more than a decade of supporting vulnerable residents.

Andrew Smith has been project director at The Gatehouse, Woodstock Road, for 14 years and will leave on Friday, October 10.

The charity provides a drop-in service for Oxford’s homeless residents and those in poor living conditions.

The 64-year-old said: “I am really proud to have been part of it and proud of what everyone else has achieved, too, because it says a lot about the city of Oxford.

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“This is the place that always makes space for people who are having a difficult time and on the edge of things.

“I have 14 years of different memories really that I will have to reflect on.”

He will be succeeded by Katrina Horne, who has worked for 17 years at Oxfordshire mental health charity Restore.

The Gatehouse serves about 300 free meals a week and is supported by more than 60 volunteers.

More than 50 people visit two-hour drop in sessions, held six days a week. It caters for people aged 25 and over with the oldest visitor in their eighties, and Mr Smith said the most vulnerable were 25 to 40.

About a third sleep rough but many stay with friends or are close to having their own home. Mental health problems are common, he said.

The Grandpont, Oxford, resident added: “It’s literally true that the city is one of the worst places outside London (for homelessness). Their circumstances are all quite different.

“I think there are times when it really does hit you how difficult life can be and how people can be overwhelmed by the need to just survive. We probably take for granted a lot of the things that happen to people because we have got used to it.”

The charity opened in the basement of St Michael’s Church, in Cornmarket Street, from central Oxford churches as a Christmas emergency shelter back in 1988.

Mr Smith said that the biggest challenge was the 2012 move to Woodstock Road, as the organisation needed to raise £175,000 in 10 months.

He added: “It just demonstrated to me the tremendous support there is in Oxford for the work we are doing.”

In 2003, the charity was one of the earliest winners of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

It opens between 5pm and 7pm and visitors can read newspapers, use computers and take part in art and book clubs. Sandwiches, cakes, fresh fruit and drinks are also provided. The centre sells donated clothes twice a week.

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