In late 2025 the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Layla Moran, visited the Gatehouse during one of our drop-in sessions to see our café and other activities taking place, and to find out more about our charity as a whole. Several representatives from Lloyd’s Bank Foundation, who made arrangements for the visit, were also present.
After being shown around our facilities and mingling with guests, staff and volunteers, discussions focussed on the issues affecting homeless and vulnerably housed individuals, and the charities supporting them such as the Gatehouse, together with ways in which Layla could support the Gatehouse through promoting our cause.
Subsequent to the visit Layla has sponsored an Early Day Motion highlighting the work of the Gatehouse, and the issues faced by our guests, particularly women facing homelessness, which can be found on the UK Parliament website.
The full wording of the EDM is:
That this House recognises the vital work which The Gatehouse charity in Oxford does to help those living in poverty and experiencing homelessness; celebrates the amazing contribution which The Gatehouse and its volunteers have made to the thousands of people who have used their services over the past 37 years; commends The Gatehouse’s noble objective to relieve poverty and hardship for those in and around Oxford; realises the challenges facing charities like The Gatehouse such as stretched resources and increased demand; and expresses concern at the pertinent issues currently facing those using their service such as the accessibility of services for women experiencing homelessness, particularly those who have been, or are at risk of becoming, victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Our thanks to Layla for her support, and we look forward to working with her in the future to ensure that the issue of homelessness is strongly promoted within Parliament and more widely amongst the General Public.
