The story so far
Surviving Christmas is a local charity giving support at Christmas to vulnerable
people and families in need, who live in the Hastings and Bexhill area. This year
will be the 25th Christmas project.
Little did Trevor Wilton, who organised a lunch for homeless and lonely people on
Christmas Day 1985 realise how this project would evolve. Originally known locally
as “Crisis at Christmas”, it later became a registered charity, changing its name
to “Surviving Christmas” to distinguish it from the London Crisis at Christmas.
Last year 5,000 local people received help.
Initially held in Christchurch Hall, St Leonards, volunteers led by Ann Moon, who
was later awarded an MBE for 13 years of service, provided free food in warm surroundings.
Who came? People who lived alone and others with problems – family breakdown, bereavement,
mental illness, unemployment or no settled home.
Over the years the project was held in a variety of locations, not always without
incident! Thankfully local electricians and plumbers gave their time on some Christmas
days to restore power to lights and cookers and secure cisterns to walls. One year
the ceiling fell down!
In recent years the more spacious YMCA has been hired for ten days over Christmas
to pack the food hampers and run the three day Christmas event on 25th, 26th and
27th December, which is open to anyone who is lonely or homeless. Christmas dinner
and lunches are served and there is a tea bar, a clothing store and when it can
be arranged volunteer hairdressers. Some years there has been a volunteer doctor
or chiropodist for the guests – always “guests” never “clients”.
Councillor Richard Stevens started his annual “Sock Appeal” after one guest complained
that the clothing store never had enough men’s large socks. Michael Foster MP always
visits to chat with guests and, as a result of these conversations, Citizens Advice
staff now visit on Boxing Day to help guests who need advice.
The greatest development has been in supporting families in need. Some years ago
the committee agreed it would be more appropriate to help families stay at home
at Christmas rather than attend the three day event. After consultation with professional
workers, it was decided to give families vouchers to buy food for the Christmas
period.
A figure of £5 per person in each family was agreed and since 2007 an extra £5 per
household has been given. All families are referred by professional workers. In
2008 Surviving Christmas gave vouchers to 1,200 families at a cost of £22,000.
The second major development was the provision of food hampers to older people struggling
to survive on small incomes and often alone at Christmas.
Between 450-500 hampers are packed in the week before Christmas and these contain
basic store-cupboard items e.g. dried and tinned goods, some toiletries and a small
gift. Volunteers do the packing and deliver the hampers on Christmas Day and Boxing
Day. It is not unknown for tears of joy to be shed by recipients when an unexpected
visitor delivers a hamper and small gift to them.
As the majority of the project’s organisation is done by the committee and volunteers,
administration costs account for only 7-8% of funds raised.
