From Christmas feasts with all the trimmings to community tree decorating and festive art therapy sessions, this Christmas our residents were given the chance to celebrate the holiday together.
Thanks to generous donations and the work of our dedicated teams, residents across our Homeless Oxfordshire projects were offered opportunities to find a sense of belonging and community at what is often a difficult time of year for people experiencing homelessness.
Our Vineyard residents in Abingdon gathered to prepare and share a delicious Christmas dinner courtesy of Waitrose & Partners Abingdon, with residents of our Women’s Project also tucking into a warming festive feast together.
As you can see from the video we shared on Facebook, the festive spirit was also alive and well at our post-treatment abstinence project, Sapling. Residents there enjoyed mince pies and other festive treats while decorating their Christmas tree.
Over at O’Hanlon House, our hostel in Oxford, a festive-themed workshop delivered by art therapist Vickie Kearney enabled residents to try a new skill and explore the positive impact of expressing their emotions through creativity. The team also organised a Boxing Day hot chocolate and festive cake decorating event.
As always, everything we do is made possible by the support of our wonderful donors, volunteers, fundraisers and partners. This year, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of local people who donated items and their time to ensure that every single one of our residents received a present as part of our Giftmas appeal.
With Christmas all wrapped up, our project teams will continue to help our residents feel safe and supported as we head into the new year. If you’d like to help us change the lives of people experiencing homelessness in your community, find out more about making a donation to Homeless Oxfordshire.
