Thanks to funding from the London Borough of Newham, over 60 people were able to enjoy varied festivities throughout the day, starting off with a karaoke session. A number of staff and residents took part and put their singing to the test. Christmas songs were playing and dancing shoes were on!

There was a Christmas Quiz, followed by a raffle where many attendees won a selection of Christmas presents. Saul Perryman, a volunteer who teaches our residents photography skills, was there photographing the activities. We had a festive scene backdrop for photos, and, as if we were in the North Pole – we even had snow!!

We were delighted to welcome our partners from Nurture Academy who provided haircuts and styling. This was a lovely treat, as many of the event’s attendees don’t always focus on their own self-care, or aren’t able to treat themselves to some pampering. On the day, 17 residents received a haircut and 4 had their hair styled by four professional barbers and a stylist.

We were pleased to also have the support of Hope Church, who provided some delicious homemade food during the event and treated us to a carol service. Pret, a long-term partner of Caritas Anchor House, kindly donated a substantial amount of food for the celebration, which we are incredibly grateful for.

The Christmas period can be a challenging time for many, but we were pleased to bring people together and foster a real sense of fun and community spirit. The feedback we received from those who attended was fantastic. Adrian* said, “I had such a great time. Thank you so much. Everyone came together to have fun – I’m so thankful to Caritas Anchor House, and I hope they have Christmas parties like this every year for people.”

Another resident said, “I don’t usually enjoy Christmas, but I had a really good time today.”

Portia Louis from Nurture Academy, said, “It was a pleasure for Nurture Academy to be able to celebrate with and provide free haircuts and hairstyles to residents of Caritas Anchor House. To see the outcome and smiles on their faces once they had received the service – that for us is a job well done.”

Hope Church said, “The opportunity to serve the residents at Caritas Anchor House has been a life-changing experience for many of us at Hope Church Newham. It has been a privilege to hear their stories, share a meal and serve these amazing people. We look forward to further opportunities to collaborate, build friendships and serve the best we can.”

*Adrian’s name has been changed to protect his privacy.