Birmingham brings Christmas to homeless people
- 21 Dec
Birmingham Council has given around 100 youngsters living in four homeless centres across the city parties, toys and games over the holidays.
Elsewhere in Birmingham, senior managers from a local charity cooked up a Christmas lunch for more than 100 homeless people.
Steve Bedser, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said:Christmas should be a special time for children throughout the city but that's sadly not always the case. That's why council staff and volunteers organise Christmas parties every year to make sure these children don't completely miss out on the festive fun. They play party games and of course get to meet Father Christmas.
Top managers from Trident Reach visited one of their homeless hostels in the city to throw a Christmas party, even taking hot food out to rough sleepers on the streets.
Anthony McCool, charity lead at Trident Reach, said:
This Christmas meal with the homeless has become an important tradition for our charity. It is hard work but fun, and is always appreciated by those who enjoy the festive meal. This year was bigger than ever, as we took meals out to other people in the community including rough sleepers in Birmingham.
And it is not just Birmingham bringing the festive cheer to homeless people.
In Vauxhall, Christmas came early for former rough sleepers when they were brought presents in their hostel by local MP Kate Hoey. Residents at Thames Reach Graham House were handed the gifts earlier this week, including books, DVDs and warm clothes.
Tony O Brien, a senior practitioner at the Thames Reach Graham House hostel, said:
The generous and thoughtful contributions of individuals and businesses in the Vauxhall area are very much appreciated by the residents and staff of Graham House.
Frances Cummins, a resident at the hostel, said:
It was great to have visitors and get gifts from the local community.
Source: Inside Housing
Related articles
- 11 Sep
New service to support homeless people in Birmingham
A new dedicated Homeless Street Triage car will be responding to the rising number of calls reporting homelessness, begging and anti-social drinking in the city, reports 24dash.In the last year –...
- 09 Sep
Gym in Kent hopes to improve health and fitness of homeless people
Riverside is a specialist in working with single homeless people to help them get their lives back on track and into accommodation. Their new project, a gymnasium, has been funded by the Riverside...
- 08 Sep
The cost of homelessness in Hackney doubles
Figures have shown that the cost of homelessness in 2009/10 was £3,092,255 compared to £7,167,440 in 2014/15, with a cut on staff spending from £3,239,653 to £2,608,491 reports 24dash.Hackney...
- 04 Sep
Two homelessness services to be investigated
The Scottish Housing Regulator is set to investigate every aspect of services offered by Dumfries and Galloway Council, whilst also examining how homeless people access help and support at Scottish...
- 03 Sep
Homeless project for young people under threat due to cuts
Platform for Life was expected to attract interest from numerous housing associations with its scheme to convert properties into accommodation for young people in further education, training or work,...
- 01 Sep
Charities warns Irish government of homelessness crisis
Social Justice Ireland is calling for a new funding system that will meet the demand and reveal that only 20 council homes for families have been completed within the first three months of this year,...
- 26 Aug
Newspaper office to become a centre for homeless people
The old office for the Doncaster Free Press is being transformed into flats and other facilities for people who are homeless, reports Hold the Front Page. The building is being turned into...
- 20 Aug
Cuts leaving people in Cheltenham needing homelessness support
Bosses at CCP and Cheltenham Borough Council have said the “devastating impact” of benefit cuts in the town are causing issues for many people, report the Gloucestershire Echo.Over the past few...
- 19 Aug
Concern that homelessness in Cambridge is at ‘tipping point’
Not only do figures show a rise in quarterly numbers by 24 households, they also reveal that over 350 cases were placed in temporary accommodation over the last year, which was a rise of 50 cases on...
- 11 Aug
Charities say Wales is “setting an example” for homelessness
A joint report by Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has praised Welsh laws that are trying to address the issues of homelessness, reports the BBC.However they warn that the removal of...
What are the Future Funding Arrangements for Supported and Sheltered Housing? "Another informative session provided by Support Solutions, excellent session" P.R. - Wrekin Housing Trust
