Through our Homeless Hub programme, we made a grant to support Caring in Bristol with their Caring at Christmas 2025 appeal. This is the second grant we have made to the charity, and we continue to be impressed by the efforts and successes the charity achieves.
As we all know Christmas is a particularly special time. Very few of us will understand the pressure and misery of not having adequate shelter, clothing and sustenance at that time.
Amanda Grimstead from the Charity has shared with us how the project has had an impact on many people over Christmas 2025.
Caring at Christmas transformed Bristol’s Trinity Centre into a welcoming community hub for people who might otherwise spend the festive period alone. Open daily from Christmas Eve to 30 December, the project offered warmth, safety and companionship at a time when support can be hardest to find.
The space brings together people from across the city including those experiencing homelessness, living in insecure housing, or facing isolation or crisis and offers more than just a hot meal. The case studies that follow share a glimpse of the real lives changed through this support.
Felix has been coming to the event for the past decade and came nearly every day in 2025. After first experiencing homelessness over ten years ago, he continues to struggle with his mental health and chronic pain.
Instead of being alone, with limited support, as the year comes to a come, Felix was instead able to enjoy the hot and takeaway meals, received a set of new clothes to get him through the cold weather, and even benefitted from a free massage. For him, Caring in Christmas is an opportunity to feel taken care of, connect with old and new friends, and receive essential support.
One of the hardest parts of the holiday season can be feeling isolated and alone. This can be particularly difficult for those with mental health challenges, like Felix. When talking about Caring in Christmas, he told us that it had “probably saved [his] life”.
Another guest who would have otherwise spent the festive period alone was Angus, an artist who loves to use the Caring at Christmas arts and crafts space and share his art with other guests and volunteers.
“I have no family. I live on my own. There’s no point me staying at home when I can come here and enjoy the facilities”.
For Angus, Caring at Christmas is an opportunity to connect with others, particularly with those who share his love of art. He has been coming for several years and always enjoys the music, the calm, friendly atmosphere, and the helpful volunteers.
Volunteers play a vital role in making Caring at Christmas happen. For Jess, volunteering with Caring at Christmas is “a highlight” of her festive period. Now working as a nurse in a local children’s hospice, she first came along as a student who had recently moved to Bristol. She is amazed by the impact the event can have, even just the little things.
“Making someone a cup of tea or coffee, serving them a plate of food, or just sitting and having a chat can make a huge difference.”
Jess loves meeting so many different types of people at the event each year, seeing familiar and new guests, volunteers and staff members.
“There’s just so much kindness and festive joy and there feels like there’s a lot of love and care, … and I just really enjoy being a part of it.”
Winter can be an especially cold and isolating time for people without a home or living in insecure housing but, as the case studies above demonstrate, it does not have to be this way. At Caring in Bristol, they are continually inspired by the strength of the community and its commitment to ensuring that no one is left to face hardship alone.
Whether through volunteering time, sharing meals, delivering hampers or offering a moment of connection over a cup of tea, these collective efforts make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Together, they show what is possible when a city comes together with compassion and purpose.
We are delighted that the project was a clear success and have already set in motion another grant to support their provision of essential items to many families across Bristol in 2026.