I cried as I read that the cost to have lunch with Theresa May on the 5th of October is £3,150. I am really, really hoping that by that date I will have raised that much money.

I won’t be joining Theresa. If I reach my target the money I will have enough money to pay for at least 105 local people to have a warm meal, companionship and entertainment on Christmas Day. I cried because this is the second year I am holding this lunch and I am doing it because many people living in my community will be alone, hungry or so busy being a carer that they won’t be able to have a nice Christmas meal. It hurt because I realised that for the cost of lunch with the prime minister was more than what it cost to host 105 people last year.

There was times when I questioned whether it was a good idea but when the referrals started to come in I seen how desperately people needed hope. People said:

“I just wanted to let you know how much this means because to be honest at Christmas I just sit alone and eat something like a sausage roll or whatever is there. Everything shuts and everyone else has something to do. So that’s what I’ve done since my husband died. I don’t have anywhere to go and to be honest I couldn’t afford a proper meal. This will be the best Christmas I have had for years.”

“Last year I was alone on Christmas Day. I didn’t see anyone for weeks in a row apart from the shops and the hairdresser… You either spend the day crying or sleeping. I don’t know why but it just feels so lonely. It’s meant to be a special day. I don’t have anyone to see, it’s just me.”

“There’s a Mum and child living in a B&B with no access to cooking facilities. We can’t find them anywhere to go on Christmas Day”

The lunch made a big difference. People made friends, they laughed and soms people have told us that it has changed their life for the better.

Please, help us do this again this year by donating. Change a life. Save a Christmas.