One of the best things about Christmas is being surrounded by loved ones, seeing their faces light up when they unwrap their presents, eating and drinking until you’re stuffed and playing those fun Christmas games.

Unfortunately, not everyone will be that lucky. In the UK there are around 320,000 people without a home. This number is far too high and has sadly increased over 3% since last year.

So, if you can, try to give a little something back this year.

  • Buy them a meal
    This isn’t something that has to cost you a lot. Take a visit to Poundland and buy some sausage rolls, crisps or biscuits. With these you could create a little goody-bag to hand out to the homeless.
  • Volunteer
    There are many opportunities to volunteer. You can decide how often you want to help, whether this is once a week, once a month or just once every few months. Anything you can do will be a great help. Contact local charities to see how you can get involved.
  • Donate
    Donating a small amount to charity can make a big difference.
  • Buy warm clothing
    Again, visit stores such as Poundland where you can buy hats, scarfs and gloves very cheaply to give out to those who need it. Even better, if you have items like this that you no longer use, why not donate them?
  • Christmas Shoe Box
    If you want to do something extra special, this is a great idea. Again, try to shop at Pound stores so you aren’t spending too much money. You can fill your shoebox with:

    • Food – make sure there is a long expiration date and food that can be eaten cold, e.g. cereal bars/biscuits
    • Socks – or any piece of clothing to keep them warm
    • Deodorant/Body Spray
    • Sanitary Products
    • Hand Sanitiser /Wipes
    • Gift Voucher for Food Stores
    • Tissues
    • Toothbrush & Toothpaste
    • Cough Sweets
    • Plastic Water Bottle
    • Include flyers or information about help-centres they can visit – remember they may not have access to the amount of information that we do

If you get the chance to, try to do at least one thing for the homeless this Christmas, you’ll be amazed how great it makes you feel!

If you’re a student in Sheffield searching for your student accommodation, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’d love to help.