Help bring people in from the cold this Christmas
'Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.'
Romans 12:13
Help bring people in from the cold this Christmas
'Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.'
Romans 12:13
Christmas is a time when, like the innkeeper in the Nativity story, we offer hospitality to friends and strangers. Will you help us extend that hospitality to thousands of people in need?
Church Urban Fund partners with churches and grassroots groups to challenge homelessness, poverty, and exclusion. We empower local people to transform their communities. This Christmas, please make a donation to help us build a fairer society.
Please give now to extend a wider welcome this Christmas
Coming in from the cold
"Last Christmas, it was just me in my tent. I couldn’t even make a hot drink."
Colin knows how it feels to be on the outside, looking in. He spent a year living in a tent, struggling to hold down his job. Then, through our Places of Welcome network he found a new church family which he describes as ‘a Godsend’.
His local Place of Welcome had hot food, activities, a food bank, and somewhere to access basic services like charging his phone, so he was able to talk to his caseworker who found him temporary lodgings. Most importantly it gave him a sense of purpose. He recently became a volunteer, to help others like him.
"They’ve helped me, so now I want to help them. I’m making progress – a step here, a step there, moving forward."
Places of Welcome
Volunteers mobilised
People welcomed
Your donation today will help more people like Colin find friendship, warmth, hospitality, and community. Together we will tackle poverty and isolation and offer a wide welcome to all who need it, right across the country. You can read more about Colin and the wider welcome he received here.
More ways to get involved this Christmas
Church resources
Advent service ideas, all age activities, and everything you need for your church, school or group this Christmas.
Fundraise your way!
Bake sale, sleepout challenge, or sponsored walk: we have all you need for fundraising success
Walking Towards Hope
Last Christmas fishmonger Alastair raised money by a sponsored walk.
"I was saying my evening prayers, thinking about how I could help people, and I saw CUF’s Walk Towards Hope on my phone. I felt I’d been directed to get involved. The support for people facing homelessness inspired me. I liked the theme of walking 90 miles, like Mary and Joseph’s walk to Bethlehem. Knowing I was raising money to help people spurred me on when my legs were tired, and wanting to honour the donations of people who supported me was part of that too. Things are pretty tough for people at the moment and I think that makes you want to help other people who are less fortunate than yourself. The strength of church communities gives me hope. I hadn’t done any sort of fundraising before so the Walk Towards Hope was new – I really enjoyed it.
Need help with your fundraising? Please email kelly.jones@cuf.org.uk or call 0203 752 5655. We would love to hear from you at any time.
Galatians 6:2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.