This campaign has now closed
For six days every Christmas, we have an ‘open house’, where homeless people can come for company, food, fun and support. From 8am – 8pm, we are staffed by around 60 volunteers who like nothing more than a chat over a cup of tea, a game of scrabble, or a sound thrashing at table tennis.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Christmas is an exceptionally awful time to be homeless - a lack of friends and family with whom to spend the festive period only exacerbates the feeling of isolation. There are many vulnerable people in need in Manchester, from rough sleepers, offenders, those with physical and mental health needs and substance issues, as well as poverty - we are addressing social disadvantage and indignity. The weather is usually freezing.
Solution
Providing people with food, showers, clothes and wellbeing services including hairdressers can increase hygiene and wellbeing, helping people address their health needs. Offering companionship and entertainment, the Christmas project gives fellowship and fun helping people feel valued and cared for. The project also reduces offending as people have said they do not resort to stealing to source food. A warm place to go during the day can save lives.