Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Amicus Trust
  • Search
  • Twitter
  • Refer/Apply
Contact us Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About us
    • Why we exist
    • Our history
    • Where we work
    • Meet The Teams
    • Jobs
  • Get Help
    • Refer / Apply
    • Services
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Useful Information
  • Our impact
    • The difference we make
    • Success stories
  • Work with us
    • Fundraise for us
    • Corporate partnerships
    • Funders
    • Volunteer
  • Services for Organisations
    • Training Courses
    • Midland Road Training Centre
    • Mental Health Services
  • News
  • 01234358478
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Our history
  1. About us
  2. Our history

Our history

Our history

Amicus Trust was born out of heart felt concern for homeless people, starting as a soup kitchen in 1974 to support vulnerable people in Bedford - today the organisation has grown to provide accommodation and support to ensure individuals have the opportunity to progress towards a life free from homelessness.


They say life begins at 40 and in 2014 when it reached it's 40th birthday, Amicus Trust celebrated this milestone by opening it’s support to service users outside of Bedfordshire, with accommodation now in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Leicester, Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire.

Timeline of events

  • 1970 Soup kitchen opens
  • 1974 Bedford Cyrenians is established as a company to help homeless people find a place to live and achieve their potential
  • 1974 Alexandra House is set up to provide accommodation and support for single homeless people in Bedford  
  • 1980 2 bedroom low level support unit is added for those ready for more independence
  • 1987 The Bridge supported accommodation, housing 9 homeless young men opened
  • 1988 Bedford Cyrenians is re-named to Bedford Housing Link
  • 1994 Perkins House is established to support single homeless women between 16 – 25
  • 2003 Bedford Housing Link moves into central Bedfordshire with the opening of a 17 bed project in Biggleswade
  • 2003 Project 14 is established in Bedford to meet the demand of increased levels of homelessness in Bedford
  • 2008 17 bed project is moved from Biggleswade to Sandy.
  • 2008 The Stepping Stones Project providing education and employment support to vulnerable and homeless adults is established 
  • 2010 Re-named Bedfordshire Housing Link
  • 2013 Trusteeship of Charlotte Beaty Almshouses Newport Pagnell (for residents 55+) is handed over to Bedfordshire Housing Link.
  • 2014 Mental Health services added to client support.
  • 2014 Pilot project of supported accommodation for homeless veterans is set up in Bedford.
  • 2014 Bedfordshire Housing Link is renamed Amicus Trust
  • 2014 Celebrates 40 years of support for single homeless people and vulnerable adults
  • 2015 First veteran support project open (further then opened in each of the regions Amicus operates)
  • 2017 Houses open in Northamptonshire, now covering Corby, Wellingborough and Northampton town
  • 2018 First project in Huntingdonshire opens,  growing to 8 houses
  • 2018 Amicus establishes a mental health service dedicated to homeless veterans
  • 2018 Mental health and basic skills pilot project opens in Northamptonshire
  • 2016 Amicus establishes projects in Leicester
  • 2018 Amicus launches accommodation projects in Buckinghamshire, growing to 3 houses in Aylesbury and 3 in Leighton Buzzard
  • 2019 First Amicus rural project opens for veterans in Buckinghamshire, with plans for an allotment
  • 2019 Amicus moves into Cambridgeshire with houses in St Neots, March and soon to open Peterborough (2020)

Published: 24th February, 2020

Updated: 9th September, 2020

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Nationwide Community Grants programme Support Amicus Trust

    Nationwide Community Grants programme Support Amicus Trust

    Nationwide Building Society and Amicus Trust. Supporting mental health in vulnerable individuals to overcome homelessness in Northamptonshire.

  • Veteran Family Support

    Veteran Family Support

    Amicus Trust are piloting an accommodation project for a homeless veteran and their family in Bedford. The house is available for veterans from anywhere in the UK.

  • Supporting homeless veterans during the pandemic

    Supporting homeless veterans during the pandemic

    Support has been more critical than ever during the pandemic.

  • Parvale send support to Amicus Trust Service Users

    Parvale send support to Amicus Trust Service Users

    Local organisation support Amicus Trust service users at Christmas time.

Most read

  • Accessibility

  • Donate

    Donate

    Donations made to Amicus Trust go directly to support the needs of homeless individuals staying with Amicus Trust.

  • Privacy Policy

    Amicus Trust privacy policy

  • Terms and Conditions

  • Fundraise for us

    Fundraise for us

    If you would like to support Amicus Trust through an event or fundraising idea we would love to hear from you and all about your ideas.

  • Huntingdonshire

    Huntingdonshire

    Accommodation and support available in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

  • Nationwide Community Grants programme Support Amicus Trust

    Nationwide Community Grants programme Support Amicus Trust

    Nationwide Building Society and Amicus Trust. Supporting mental health in vulnerable individuals to overcome homelessness in Northamptonshire.

  • Parvale send support to Amicus Trust Service Users

    Parvale send support to Amicus Trust Service Users

    Local organisation support Amicus Trust service users at Christmas time.

  • Amicus Policies and Procedures

    A summary of Amicus Trust Policies and Procedures

  • Buckinghamshire

    Buckinghamshire

    Accommodation available in Aylesbury Vale and Cublington, including accommodation for Veterans.

Latest tweet

Sign up for updates about Amicus

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us

Registered Office
31A Prebend Street
Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK40 1QN

+44 (0)1234 358478
[email protected]

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Amicus Policies and Procedures 

Follow us

  • Twitter

Amicus Trust Limited is a Registered Charity in England and Wales Charity Number 268639 | A Company Limited by Guarantee 1182060