“If you can’t do away with all your prejudices at Christmas, if you cannot suspend your disbelief, and you can’t work together for something like homelessness, then there’s not much chance for society.” – Crisis founder Bill Shearman

Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time of year for a person cut off from family and home. One in four homeless people spends Christmas alone.

 

Crisis at Christmas offers support, companionship and vital services and the chance for homeless people to take up the life-changing opportunities on offer all year round at centres run by Crisis across the country.

 

In 2015 volunteers in London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Coventry donated their time to cut hair, lead karaoke sessions, scrub potatoes, perform medical examinations or just have a cup of tea and a chat. Dentists, counsellors, podiatrists and massage therapists all lent their skills to help make homeless guests feel special.

 

Things have come a long way since Crisis was founded in December 1967, when prospective Conservative Party candidate Bill Shearman joined forces with a network of homelessness service providers and social activists working to raise awareness of homelessness and destitution in East London.

 

Backed by the groundswell of public support following the BBC film Cathy Come Home, Shearman enlisted Shadow Chancellor Iain Macleod to launch an awareness raising appeal, leading to a candlelit vigil in Hyde Park attended by 3,000 people. By 1971, a small team of volunteers began to provide food and shelter for homeless people at the first ‘Open Christmas’ in an East London church.

 

In the intervening years the event grew in scale and ambition. Crisis at Christmas is now run by the national homelessness charity Crisis, which offers year-round services and campaigns to help end homelessness in the UK.

 

Last year over 4,000 people came to Crisis at Christmas, looked after by 10,000 volunteers. Tens of thousands more donated money and materials to help make the event happen.

 

By buying this book, you too are helping the homeless people who come to Crisis this Christmas. You are responding to the challenge laid out by Bill Shearman. You are proof that there is hope for society.

 

To donate, volunteer or campaign for Crisis, visit www.crisis.org.uk

 

 

 

Registered Charity Numbers:

E&W1082947, SC040094.