Help support the homeless: donations will be doubled this week says Wintercomfort Director

With Christmas nearly upon us, we’re reminded that Wintercomfort was so named because of local people’s concerns about homelessness in Cambridge at the coldest and wettest time of the year. Of course, we don’t know what the Christmas season will bring, but we know it’s not a good time to be sleeping rough or struggling to keep a tenancy. It sometimes seems that time accelerates as the year draws to an end, but in reality, I think it seems to run more quickly because we are so busy at Overstream House with as many as 90 people per day using our services.

Wintercomfort's work is about people, and the stories and things we hear from service users during the year stay with us and drive what we do. But numbers tell stories too. Here are a few that give a bare bones summary of our activities over the last 12 months. We have seen a total of 742 individuals who have made 19,246 visits to us. We have served 8,322 breakfasts, washed 969 laundry loads, given out 276 food vouchers and provided 115 haircuts. We have supported 134 people to develop their skills through literacy and language sessions and have helped 46 people to find work.

We currently work in partnership with a number of businesses within the city. We are exceptionally grateful for the support that we receive, but there is always room ?for more.

Homelessness is not an issue solved simply through providing a roof but through providing a wide range of opportunities including work placements and employment opportunities.

Which brings us to our Christmas Appeal. Every year, Wintercomfort makes a special appeal for support in the run up to Christmas and this year we are most grateful to be working with the Cambridge Independent.

We are appealing to local businesses to support the appeal - it could be as small as donating their Christmas card money to Wintercomfort and instead sending e-Christmas cards this year; or a small Christmas fundraising event in the workplace, or making a larger financial donation to support our work. We are very appreciative of the support our charity receives but there are challenging times ahead and we foresee that the numbers of homeless people will continue to grow with more and more people needing our support."

To donate, please visit wintercomfort.org.uk/christmas - donations this week will be doubled until 12pm on Friday December 2, while match funds last, thanks to the Big Give.?Sarah Halls, Director