North Somerset pub offers homeless people Christmas meal - thanks to support from locals
The Lamb Inn in Worle did not want people to miss out on Christmas because of their living situation
A pub in North Somerset is cooking Christmas meals for homeless people spending the festive season in temporary accommodation.
While many people will be at home with their families for Christmas, some people do not have a home or family to spend the season with.
“Christmastime for someone affected by rough sleeping is much like any other day of the year,” said Lauren Easterbook from the YMCA’s Dulverton Group, which supports homeless people across Somerset and Devon.
“However it can be difficult for those who are not able to be with loved ones over the festive period.”
In North Somerset, the council’s homeless prevention team offers support and advice to people in, or threatened with homelessness. The council works with partners, such as the YMCA, to find accommodation for people in this situation.
Mike Bell, the council’s executive member for housing, said: “Our aim is to prevent homelessness wherever we can and we also have an ambition to end rough sleeping in North Somerset.
“We are doing everything we can to seek alternative accommodation for those households threatened with homelessness. But due to the lack of affordable housing we often have to provide temporary or emergency accommodation before more permanent accommodation can be found.”
For some people in North Somerset, temporary and emergency accommodation will be where they spend their Christmas this year. Some people are staying in temporary accommodation as a family but others are on their own
But one pub — the Lamb Inn in Worle — did not want people to miss out on Christmas because of their living situation.
Supported by donations from regulars and local businesses, the pub is cooking Christmas meals for 48 people who are spending Christmas in temporary accommodation — and getting them Christmas presents.
Landlord Mandi Dexter said: “We’d like to thank our generous locals and business partners for providing support to those in our community who are less fortunate this winter, especially at Christmas time.
“I am grateful to our regulars who have given up their evenings to come and help wrap presents – and those who have offered to deliver gifts and food to the residents on Christmas Day, including volunteers from the council’s homeless prevention, housing solutions and parking teams.
“As well as monetary donations from our customers and local businesses including L Stacey Development Services Ltd, we have been humbled by the generosity of our catering providers, Brakes and Booker Ltd who have provided vegetables and groceries.”
Mr Bell said: “As we think of those who most need our help and compassion, I am very grateful to all of the volunteers, businesses and staff who work throughout Christmas and New Year to rise to this challenge.”
For people still out on the street, charities will be continuing outreach work. The YMCA’s homeless outreach team, who carry out wellbeing checks on rough sleepers and provide weather-appropriate resources and food, will be available on Christmas Eve.
The Somewhere to Go day centre will be open throughout Christmas, including from 9am to 3pm on Christmas Day. Located in St John’s Church Hall on the Boulevard, the day centre offers people sleeping rough a warm space with hot food and showers.
Anybody concerned about someone sleeping rough, or becoming homeless themself, can contact the council’s homelessness prevention team on 01934 426 330 or by emailing hp.triage@n-somerset.gov.uk. You can also contact Streetlink through their website: http://www.streetlink.org.uk/.
You can support the YMCA by donating items though their Amazon wishlist. Or get in touch on 01934 629787 or by emailing outreach@ymca-dg.org to ask about donating anything else.
Ms Easterbrook said: “As well as our Outreach team, our Housing teams will also be continuing to support residents over Christmas and have been very lucky to have received kind donations of food and care packages for those in our accommodation. We have been able to celebrate the festive season with our residents across all our sites through December and will continue to support those staying with us over Christmas itself.”
But she added: “People are usually very generous around Christmas, and we are lucky and very grateful to see donations and support increase during the season, however, homelessness happens all year round.
“Many of those affected by homelessness find January a particular struggle, as it is often a month where people are unable to offer the help they so generously gave in December.”