Help is needed now more than ever to keep the Doors of Hope open this Christmas

Part of the wider St Vincent de Paul Society (England and Wales), St Vincent’s Newcastle sits in Byker, where it welcomes those from all walks of life whether they need help with debt, a hot meal, or just someone to talk to. This centre sits at the forefront the UK’s poverty crisis, but needs more support this Winter. 

Demand for those using the centre continues to increase, but more help and support is needed to ensure the centre can stay open this Winter and through the coming winter months. Like many other charities, St Vincent’s Newcastle needs more support so they can continue offering services for those who need it most in society. 

Earlier this year, the centre saw one of its busiest months with a total of 3,535 people being supported in June. These figures were made up from 897 free hot 3-course meals being served, 140 free food parcels being delivered, and many more attending the free wellbeing activity groups that the centre offers throughout the week.

Over Christmas, the centre will be there for anyone who needs support regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, race, religion or any other circumstances. A toy drive will be taking place to ensure that both children and adults who would otherwise have gone without a present will get at least one to open on Christmas morning. Donations are being sought after for children of all ages, teens, young adults, men and women which will then be wrapped by the centre and given to those in need. 

A new initiative that the centre has started this year is a Christmas Lunch Bag that offers all the ingredients needed to make a Christmas dinner at home at a fraction of the cost of what it would from buying at the supermarket. This is a new idea from the centre to make Christmas dinner more accessible for those who have the facilities to cook at home but struggle with the rising cost of food. 

Centre Manager, Rebecca Stevenson-Read, spoke about the importance of making people aware that the centre is there for those who need it.

“If people know we are here, then we can help them. If someone comes to the centre and we can’t directly help them, we will never turn them away. We will signpost them in the direction of the specialist help they need. No one is ever turned away from St Vincent’s Newcastle.

“However, being there and keeping our doors open this Christmas will cost us, and like most other charities today we are struggling with the rising costs of almost everything. We do hope that if anyone is in a position to donate items, money, or their time, that they do consider helping St Vincent’s Newcastle. We are a community support project that is here for local people, so if you can please do consider helping us.

“We currently have a ‘Sponsor a Vinnie’s Christmas Lunch’ fundraiser taking place where we ask people to consider donating £6.50 which will then allow someone to have a 4-course Christmas lunch with a gift. This is another new initiative we’re doing this year to try and give everyone a Christmas meal.”

Christmas is a difficult time for a lot of people; however, the centre sees deprivation on a daily basis and helps to alleviate poverty through the work they do. A free hot 3-course meal is served every Tuesday, a range of free-for-all wellbeing activities take place every day, a Cost-of-Living market is held each Thursday, and a new low-cost food pantry has just opened to offer an affordable and dignified way to shop.

The centre is currently fundraising for the annual SVP Christmas Campaign, which aims to raise over £100,000 to help keep the Doors of Hope open over winter. Funds raised through the centre will go back to St Vincent’s Newcastle to ensure that the centre can continue the work they already do and help them to keep helping those who need it most in the community.