Each year, I do a few night shifts for Crisis at Christmas. This year it’s 29th, 30th and New Year’s Eve.I try to donate some time and money to them because I know what Crisis does works. I would be doing this anyway - and to be honest it is only since Crisis have asked for help fundraising that I’ve thought about a JustGiving page. If you do feel like donating, then do please know you would be making a genuine impact.

The first time I did it, one of the other volunteers managed to help a 21 year old man find his way home. She listened to his story and worked with the team to contact his sister in Tyneside, who knew nothing about her brother being homeless, The sister must have jumped in the car immediately because the call was made close to midnight on Christmas Eve and she arrived at 6am Christmas Day morning, scolding him, hugging him, and bundling him into the car,

Two years ago, a 40 something homeless man, toothless and covered in tattoos, told me Crisis at Christmas was the only time he could be himself. On the streets he had to be “all chest and bravado and show no fear”. Women always “walked away from him because they were scared” and he understood why, At Crisis, though, people listened to him, women didn’t walk away from him, and he could “actually talk about how he felt and what he was scared of”.

Last year, I worked with a 70-year old volunteer, who had been a guest. She was travelling 2 hours each way to the night shift, there and back, but was happy to do it. When she had been homeless, she said, Crisis had helped, and it was the least she could do.

Every time I’ve gone, there have been other volunteers who have at some stage in the past used Crisis at Christmas. They’re there because Crisis helped them when they needed it and because Crisis works.