The Big Issue has pulled together a full list, and we’ve picked out the ones near Greater Manchester.
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Do you know of one we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments on Facebook and we’ll update the list.
Lifeshare, Manchester
We open the project today with our team of volunteers, staff &partners who have been hard at work over the last few months! We don't post photos when the project is ongoing to protect the safety of our guests, but we'll be busy ensuring that all Manchester has a Merry Christmas!
There’s a Christmas Dinner drop-in at the Chartered Ragged School on Dantzic Street – and it’s open from 7am to 8pm.
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Lifeshare will be offering food as well as entertainment, including live music, bingo and a quiz, plus medical care and haircuts.
The Booth Centre, Manchester
The Booth Centre is throwing a whole week of Christmas events, providing a warm welcome to people affected by homelessness.
The Pimblett Street community centre will be open between 9am and 2pm on Christmas Day serving up Christmas dinners.
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Cornerstone, Manchester
A short distance south of the city centre, near the University of Manchester campus, is Cornerstone, a day centre providing services to vulnerable and disadvantaged adults.
It’s operated by the Dioceses of Salford on Denmark Road and will serve hot food on Christmas Day from 10.30am until 3pm.
Preston’s roast chicken specialists are going to be open between 11am and 3pm on Christmas Day.
In previous years they’ve served hot Christmas sandwiches to emergency service workers too.
The Cheshire Cheese pub, Warrington
Well here’s a person doing some great things for his community – chef Andrew Dutton is offering a full Christmas dinner for five families at risk of homelessness.
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He’s also donating £1000 to buy gifts for children to open on the day itself.
Featured image: Pixabay / Unsplash
Christmas
Government launches £442m drive to get rough sleepers off streets before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas.
Learning from ‘innovative’ approaches put into place during the pandemic, the Government has announced that new accommodation will be rolled out across England this winter, as well as offering practical help with housing, health, and other needs to support people to build a more stable life for themselves in the future.
The new commitment to offer everyone a route off the streets this Christmas, along with boosted funding, reflect Andy Burnham‘s national drive to make ‘real change’ and get everyone playing their part in ending rough sleeping.
Not only will these plans change the lives of rough sleepers, but it’s also said they will have huge benefits for the country as a whole.
Research from homelessness charity Crisis suggests that by preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless for a year, taxpayers could save around £370 million.
The Government has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas / Credit: Number 10 Press Office | Jon Tyson (via Unsplash)
As well provisions to get people off the streets, and the intensive ‘wraparound’ support, the newly allocated funding will also help local areas deliver more than 1,000 ‘settled’ homes over the next three years, it has been confirmed.
Areas facing the greatest pressures will receive the largest share of support.
Working alongside councils, Mayors will play a leading role in driving local action to end rough sleeping, and will be tasked with making decisions that are right for their communities to deliver help where it’s needed most.
The Prime Minister says he ‘won’t accept’ rough sleeping any longer. He commented: “No one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station, but we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.
“That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping, and it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas. We did it in the pandemic, we can do it again. But it needs all of us.
“Government will put the money in, but I’m asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too.
“Let’s get people out the cold, and let’s bring back hope.”
Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)
Christmas
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally the middle of August, and we’ve still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of a bank holiday weekend, Halloween, and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The iconic heritage railway has announced that its hugely-popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam trains are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
Santa Specials are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station, and first get to meet some old favourites and new characters – including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess – all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves – with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipples, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
Daisy Jackson -
23rd December 2021 
