Thank you, Paul!

Last week saw the end of an era when Paul Solly retired from his role as Lifeline Manager after 23 years. Paul joined Genesis as General Manager in September 2001 when we had been officially a charity for just six years. At that time the projects were the Soup Run, Sunday Centre, Lunch Box and the Furniture Project.

As a student in Liverpool, Paul had volunteered at a night shelter and he had also worked with people with learning disabilities. After a thirteen-year career at a well-known high street book shop he saw the job opportunity at Genesis. It appealed to him as he had always wanted ‘to work with and for people’. Working at Genesis would reconnect him to his earlier interests and passion for helping vulnerable people: ‘I like to be on the shopfloor, not a hands-off manager’ he recollects.

With the trustees and volunteers, Paul guided the formation of Genesis Trust over those early years. He realised that more was needed to help people in the daytime and to provide longer term support. In June 2003, Lifeline started at Bath City Church (now Life Church Bath) with Gloria Ware as the first manager. Over the years, Lifeline become established as a vital service for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage, moving to Bath Abbey in 2012, the Quakers Meeting House in 2016 and then finally to the Gateway Centre in 2019. Currently, we are temporarily homed under Widcombe Baptist Church on the canal whilst the Gateway Centre is refurbished.

In 2004, it became clear to Paul that more was needed to help people with their wellbeing and so Life Skills was started under the leadership of Denise Weikert. Woodworks, a furniture upcycling project, also joined Genesis Trust and the Genesis Centre was established at the former Green Park Day Centre opposite the station entrance. Paul reflects on this time that ‘I loved working with volunteers, giving their time for free and so passionate’. He remembers how he ‘enjoyed the connection of Genesis Trust to all the churches in Bath. Meeting Christians from all denominations was a real privilege and to work with wonderful people was an inspiration.’

In 2010/11, Paul was instrumental in the start of Bath Foodbank and we welcomed other volunteer led and run projects under the Genesis umbrella such as Street Pastors and Family Matters. In 2017 he stepped down from his role as Director. He realised that he wanted to reconnect to his passion and make the most of his strengths which is to be directly working with people ‘on the shop floor’.

As Lifeline Manager, he has been able to use his experience, skills and compassion to enable hundreds of people to change their lives through providing Good Help. He has the knowledge, skill and patience to help people tackle some of their most difficult problems and to help people in poverty in all its forms. Through one to one support he has helped clients with their budgeting, housing, addictions or whatever issue is most pressing. He does this with empathy. ‘Lives are messy’, he says ‘and we help people in the messiness’. ‘We are not very different from each other, and we are all made in the image of God. And we have all fallen short. I remind myself of the Grace of God and when people are difficult or renege on something I must have a gracious attitude, not superior or judgemental.’

Paul sees everyone as precious and his kindness and desire to help people change, complimented by his practical and down to earth approach means that he will be missed by staff and volunteers but most of all by our clients. He has journeyed with some of our clients over many years.

From Peter Heywood, Founder and Trustee of Genesis Trust, “The first time that I met Paul was at his interview for the new role of General Manager in 2001.  I remember that he said that he wanted to spend his life helping other people.  And that is exactly what he has done, for all these years.  There are many hundreds, maybe thousands of people in the Bath area now whose lives have been touched by Paul, both directly, and through his encouragement of our staff and volunteers as the charity grew.  From all of us, thank you Paul!”

From all of us at Genesis Trust, past and present, trustees, volunteers, staff and clients, we thank you Paul for your dedication and passion for people ‘on the shop floor!’