One of the oldest Manchester charities that supports homeless and vulnerable people has announced a week-long pop-up service over the festive season. Based at the New Victoria Development next to Manchester Victoria station, Lifeshare will be offering hot meals, hair-cuts, spare clothes, advice, medical care, support, showers, veterinary care and assistance to get homeless people off the streets, during the Christmas period.
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Lifeshare primarily work with rough sleepers and those in food and fuel poverty throughout the year, however the charity is seeing those numbers rise week on week. From December 23-29, the New Victoria build-to-rent development will be opening its doors to its site cabins in partnership with Lifeshare to provide a warm place to spend the day, a hot shower, dry clothes, a fresh meal, or a friendly face.
The charity’s Christmas project has run for 35 years and last year saw Lifeshare serve more than 2000 meals, but they are concerned that there is going to be even more demand this festive season. Lifeshare is projecting to double this number this Christmas so any extra help will make a real difference to help feed homeless and vulnerable people in Manchester.
Volunteer applications have now closed, but if you have something to spare, you can help provide warm dinners for rough sleepers, those in food and fuel poverty, and those who may be among the hidden homeless. On Lifeshare’s donation page it says: “A meal is a simple thing, but the feeling of knowing your community cares about you enough to help keep you fed is nourishing to the soul as well as the body.”
Judith Vickers, operations manager at Lifeshare, said: “This incredible, life-saving service that is going to be greatly needed this Christmas couldn’t happen without our amazing corporate partners VINCI Building, Muse and Pension Insurance Corporation. We are so grateful that yet again they are providing the location, cash, and a wealth of other supplies to make sure we can support the increasing number of people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.”
The partners helping to make this Lifeshare Christmas Project happen at the New Victoria residential development include: VINCI Building, Muse, PIC, Chroma, Walker Sime, Chroma, HAALO, WSP, Xclusive Marquees and John Sisk. New Victoria, next to Manchester Victoria station, is expected to complete in summer 2023. The team is on site with the 450,000 sq ft residential phase of the development, which will deliver 520 homes over two 20 and 25-storey buildings.
You can donate a Christmas dinner to help the homeless via Lifeshare here.