News article
Crisis at Christmas 40th anniversary services start today
23 December 2011 | Topics: none
For the 40th year Crisis at Christmas has opened to homeless people across London.
Over 8,000 volunteers are running nine centres across the capital providing companionship, food, entertainment, plus vital access to health and advice services to an estimated 3,000 homeless and vulnerably housed people. Crisis Skylight in Newcastle is also be open over the Christmas period.
As the largest volunteer-led project in the UK, Christmas at Crisis offers a lifeline of support to alleviate loneliness and isolation and help people take their first steps out of homelessness.
The Christmas centres are housed in schools, colleges and office buildings.
Much of the set up work, equipment, food and clothing is donated by companies and individuals. The centres are also supported by thousands of individual donors, large and small.
Crisis Chief Executive Leslie Morphy said: “Crisis at Christmas has provided vital services for homeless and vulnerably housed people for 40 years. Whilst we should celebrate the lives helped and changed and the dedication of the thousands of volunteers and donors who made this possible, it is a scandal that homelessness still exists and that we are needed at all.
“Iin 2011, with homelessness rising [1], we look set to be busier than ever. Christmas is particularly hard for homeless people with the rest of the population enjoying time with friends and family. For Crisis, providing companionship and services at Christmas is central to what we do, our guests are some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
“The most important aspect of our Crisis at Christmas work is to help our guests begin to take steps out of homelessness: giving health MOTs, housing and job advice, and encouraging them to come to Crisis Skylight where we can offer year round support.
“Crisis at Christmas is a mammoth effort every year, and we owe a huge debt of thanks to everyone who gives their time, their donations and their goods in kind.”
Residential centres provide accommodation for rough sleepers, and people with specific needs such as women at risk and those with dependency issues.
For the vulnerably housed, Crisis has set up five specialist day centres, based in academies and colleges, providing an inspirational environment.
These centres are open between 9.30am and 9pm, and offer services that include, three hot meals, advice, healthcare, dentistry, entertainments, hairdressing, massage, activities, Internet cafes - provided by partner Charity AIMAR cinemas and sports activities.
Across all the centres guests can benefit from 20 different services, learning opportunities, vital medical help, housing and job advice.
Crisis links guests up to year-round services and encourages them to come to Crisis Skylight services in the New Year so we can continue to provide opportunities that will help them transform their lives.
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