'Share some love' in Portsmouth this Christmas by giving Comfort and Joy to those in need
IN the headlong rush towards Christmas, people are being urged to stop and think of those who are living on the margins - and ‘share some love’ with them.
This year marks the 23rd running of the Comfort and Joy campaign to bring a little happiness into the lives of those who may not feel like joining in the festive celebrations in Portsmouth.
Across those decades the Churches Homeless Action Christmas Voucher Scheme has raised £220,000 for local agencies supporting those on the margins. This year nine causes will benefit from the scheme which works in two easy ways:
- the gathering of vouchers or gift cards for £5 or £10 so that those who receive them can choose what they have
- the sharing of a Christmas card and a personal message, ‘recognising our common humanity’.
The Venerable Bob White, Vicar of St Mary’s Church in Fratton and Archdeacon of Portsdown, said: ‘Those who are in the margins and homeless are not just a statistic, or a nuisance, or a ‘them’; but they are human beings like us and in each of them Christians believe we see the image of God.
‘Each year we hear of how much this simple scheme means to those who receive the gift cards and greetings and how precious they are. In a time of ongoing worries and concerns about finance, food, fuel and wellbeing we hope to be able to share this precious gift and greeting with as many as we can.’
Anyone who would like to make a donation can send a Christmas Card and a £5 or £10 gift card - in an unsealed envelope- to: The Deanery office, St Faith’s Church, Crasswell Street, Portsmouth PO1 1HT
All cards and donations should be completed by Wednesday, December 17, ahead of the collections being distributed at a Carol Sing In on Friday, December 19 at 12pm at St Mary’s Church.
This year, Comfort and Joy will be supporting:
‘Vouchers will benefit our adult services such as Hope House, our young people’s services such as the Foyer and our mental health services. The vouchers make a huge difference at Christmas to all our clients who receive them. This can be to meet their basic needs such as food and clothing or allow them to buy a loved one a gift at Christmas which they ordinarily may not be able to do.’
‘We provide practical and emotional support to people affected by domestic abuse and stalking and harassment. Last year in the Portsmouth Diocese we accommodated 131 women and 171 children living in seven refuges and community-based support to a further 2,958 women, children, young people and men. Our vision is a world without domestic abuse. We work to ensure that victims are supported to recover and remain safe and perpetrators are supported to change their behaviour.’
‘The support given through this scheme continues to make a profound difference to the families and individuals we work with. Your kindness offers more than practical help: It gives people hope when life feels overwhelming and it reminds them that they are not forgotten. The vouchers also offer something deeply important: dignity. By giving people the choice of what they need for themselves and their families, you are offering not just assistance, but respect and the gift of love.’
‘We look after around 91 families including three residential centres: Catherine Booth House - for 24 families with high support needs; St Pauls – for 14 families with high support needs; St Monica’s House – for 10 families with low support needs. In the community 32 families receive support in a sublet tenancy and we support upwards of 14 families in their own homes to manage their tenancy. The vouchers help the parents ensure the children - and indeed themselves - have the best possible Christmas.’
‘We have 45 rooms (for homeless people) at Kingsway, 41 rooms at The Registry, 19 Rooms at Elm Grove and around 30-35 rough sleepers we offer a day service provision to.The vouchers received help remind our clients that they haven't been forgotten as many do not have family to remember them at Christmas. Christmas is usually no different for them than any other day so to have a voucher, kindly donated by someone else, gives our clients a sense that someone has thought of them.’
‘We celebrated our 30th year in 2024 and provide a free, hot meal and a small food parcel for any adult in need. Our guests are people living in poverty, those recovering from or living with addiction or those who simply appreciate a hot meal and some company, every Sunday from 5.30pm to 7pm.’
‘We would pass vouchers to our guests who are rough sleeping, sleeping in unsuitable conditions, underhoused, recovering addicts and those with poor mental health. We aim to create an environment of compassion and care, where people feel they belong and are accepted; and where they can build a sense of self-worth and confidence – a place where we can be generous with our time, energy and practical resources.’
‘We provide houses with support for people who are homeless for a variety of reasons, including people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, survivors of domestic abuse, people who've been in prison, and refugees. We work in partnership with a variety of Christian churches in the Portsmouth area to help some of the most vulnerable people in the city rebuild their lives.We have a vision of every church in Portsmouth lovingly making a home for someone without a home.’
‘We provide casework support and integration support to more than 600 asylum seekers in the city, some of whom receive as little as £8 per week from the Home Office. We also deliver local community projects that promote independence and integration of migrants with the wider local community such as community gardening, tree planting, women's group, men's group, a bicycle project and much more.’