Bath businesses have been generously showering the Genesis Trust Lifeline Christmas party with goodwill this festive season, with the event set to take place on 17th December in the ballroom of Bath Forum.
Guests are in for a real treat with Bath chef Rob Clayton (of Clayton’s Kitchen) leaving his busy restaurant to cook a traditional seasonal dinner for those unlikely to be spending Christmas with their families.
Rob said: “I wanted to get involved because I am lucky to live in the beautiful city of Bath and am saddened by how many homeless people there are.
“It is only a small gesture, but I feel everybody deserves a Christmas dinner.”
Rob will be serving up a full turkey roast dinner and for dessert there’ll be sticky toffee pudding with home made mince pie ice cream.
Riverford Organic is kindly supplying the vegetables for the meal and was one of several suppliers who offered to donate goods after an appeal on Twitter.
A Christmas party wouldn’t be complete without a tree and presents and here Bath company, Digitalbox, has stepped in to help.
Its 50 staff held a bake off sale to raise money to buy gifts to put in shoe boxes for all those attending the party and will some of the team be on hand to give them out.
Group Accountant, Toni Longford said: “With Christmas around the corner, the company wanted to reassert its commitment to Bath and look to deliver a festive offering that benefits those that need it most in the city.
“Digitalbox is proud to be involved with Genesis Trust and is pleased to provide shoeboxes full of Christmas treats for homeless people in the city.”
Lifeline manager, Gloria Ware says she’s overwhelmed by people’s kindness.
Gloria has been asked by Bath Abbey to be part of its Christmas Day BBC1 Songs of Praise broadcast, when she will be talking about her work with the city’s homeless people.
Based in the vaults of Bath Abbey, the Lifeline centre is open on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings and offers a comfortable, welcoming space to people who are homeless and vulnerable.
It often has over 30 visitors a day. As well as being a sanctuary where someone can get a cup of tea and a chat, staff there also gives out warm clothes, tents and sleeping bags to those camping out around the city.
It has recently been given funding from the Chrysalis Trust and the Avon and Somerset Police Commissioner to open on Saturdays in the winter.
Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “I was delighted to award the Genesis Trust £5,000 from my Community Action Fund, in order to enable them to extend their opening times to include Saturdays.
“The work of the Genesis Trust in helping the homeless and other vulnerable adults in and around Bath is invaluable. I also wish them well for their Lifeline Christmas party.”
