Our strategic partner Crisis supports thousands of homeless people each year. One of the main events of the year is Crisis at Christmas, where 10,000 volunteers are recruited to help provide companionship, advice and a full Christmas meal to people experiencing homelessness in the charity's centres across the UK. For many, Crisis at Christmas is the first step moving away from homelessness for good.
Crisis at Christmas 2020 will look very different as the Crisis team work to meet the needs of homeless people in a way that is safe and socially distanced. Guests will stay in separate hotel rooms where they are able to safely isolate, and the Crisis team will be working hard to keep the spirit of Christmas alive and staying in touch with guests throughout.
Crisis' frontline workers will be providing food and festive fun, and long-standing volunteers will be on hand to supply emotional and wellbeing support - befriending guests, playing Christmas games, and providing remote advice on how to start the journey out of homelessness.
Thank you to everyone at Berkeley who has volunteered for Crisis at Christmas in recent years. While we won't be able to take part as volunteers this year, there are lots of other ways you can support Crisis's work - see our suggestions below.
We hope Crisis at Christmas will be back in full in 2021. In the meantime, Crisis has produced a video showing how this year's Christmas will run. Have a look here.
Would you like to support Crisis' work this Christmas?
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Donate to enable somebody who is homeless to access Crisis's services this Christmas.
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Sign Crisis' petition calling for everybody to have a safe place to live regardless of their immigration status.