FOR most of us Christmas is a time of celebration. It’s a time to be with our families and loved ones, to enjoy good food and wine and to unwind from our hectic lives.

But for some people Christmas is the worst time of year. They have no one to share the festivities with, largely through no fault of their own, and in some extreme cases, some people do not even have a roof over their head.

In a bid to try and spread a little Christmas cheer, Sheffield City Council Leader Paul Scriven is going to be doing his bit next week by serving breakfast to some of the city’s homeless.

Cllr Scriven will be dishing up bacon and eggs early on Christmas Eve morning at city’s groundbreaking Archer Project at Sheffield Cathedral.

He said: “For some people this is an excruciatingly painful time of year seeing everyone else happy and celebrating and getting on with their lives.

“I just want to try and do what I can to help relieve a little bit of this pain which is why I volunteered to do my bit at the Archer Project.

“This is my chance to be at the coal face and see what these great people do day in day out to help the homeless and vulnerable in this city.”

The Cathedral Archer Project is a day centre that supports the homeless and vulnerable in Sheffield.  It was founded in 1990 as a breakfast project.  In 2007 it moved into purpose built premises in the heart of the city centre at Sheffield Cathedral.

Staff at the Project work tirelessly to help the homeless and vulnerable in Sheffield to try to get on to a pathway away from exclusion.

Homelessness can include sleeping rough, occasional hostel spaces, camping on friends’ floors and sofas, and squatting. The majority of the people the Project deals with are street drinkers, alcoholics and drug users.

Tim Renshaw, Project Manager said: “We are pleased that in this season of merriment and festivity that the Leader of the Council has taken the time to spend with adults who are on the edges of society and do not share in many of the pleasures of Christmas.” 

The Archer Project is also running a Christmas Appeal where people can donate by cheque, payable to the Cathedral Archer Project and send to Cathedral Archer Project, Christmas Appeal, Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, S1 1HA. Alternatively they can donate online at www.justgiving.com/cathedralarcherproject.

Ends

Notes for Editors:

The Archer Project will be closed over Christmas, but food will be available for the city’s homeless and vulnerable from Wednesday, December 24 at Broomhall Community Centre in Broomspring Lane, Sheffield. The centre will be open from 9.30am to 9.30pm daily until Thursday, January 1.

Three emergency shelters will be open over the festive period as well.

These are: Roundabout Limited, which is on 0114 258 9829; the Salvation Army premises, on 0114 272 5158; and St Anne’s Community Services on 0114 275 4741. The Women Only direct access shelter at Stonham (correct) will also be open. It is on 0114 256 2726.

For further information please contact Emma Hollingworth, Media Team on 0114 205 3545 07764659181.  E-mail: emma.hollingworth@sheffield.gov.uk.  For out of hours media enquiries please ring 07711 153995. 

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