Christmas at our homeless hostel!

Published by Esmee Hauge

Christmas can be a bittersweet time for our community. While images of joyful family gatherings and abundant celebrations are often presented as the standard of the season, for many people these ideals can feel distant or unattainable. For those without stable family relationships, secure housing, or the means to enjoy gifts and luxurious meals, Christmas can heighten feelings of isolation and loss.

And yet, it is also a time of celebration. At the hostel, we work hard to ensure that Christmas remains something to look forward to. With the resources we have, we aim to create warmth, comfort and a genuine sense of belonging. For some residents, this will be their first Christmas without a home, bringing understandable challenges and emotions. For others—many of whom have never truly felt part of a community—this may be a rare opportunity to experience Christmas as a time of connection and care. Here is what our December looks like:

Ukulele show

men performing Christmas songs at YMCA Wirral Hostel

 

 

We were joined again by our long-standing friends who performed a range of Christmas and non Christmas delights in our communal area. The jingles coaxed staff out of offices and residents out of bedrooms to congregate together amongst the appreciative audience. For those who have spent a Christmas with us before here at the hostel, this was a YMCA Wirral Christmas tradition to be enjoyed again. Many residents here are musical, and thanks to the requests of numerous residents, we will be looking into putting on regular music sessions for our community to take part in. For now though, visits like these go a long way in engaging our clients and staff alike!

 

LIPA play

We were so excited for this years Christmas Play! With the support of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, our residents wrote, directed, and starred in a Birkenhead rendition of A Christmas Carol. Think Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim with a very different accent! With modern examples of deprivation and local challenges – it was an insightful perspective of Birkenhead that managed to both be lighthearted and meaningful.

The students at LIPA played supporting roles and trained our residents in how to deliver their chosen message. It was heartwarming to see a group of young adults tailor their rehearsals to the needs of our community – and adapt anything at the drop of a hat to best serve our residents. They literally and figuratively set the stage for our residents to shine! The audience was partially made up of other residents of our homeless hostel, local organizations, and our staff of course. We look forward to welcoming LIPA back next Christmas.

Christmas Donations

women donating Christmas gifts at YMCA Wirral
The angels who donated Christmas gifts!

We were absolutely in awe of the generosity from the team at Harvester Derby Pool Wallasey! They came in armed with bundles of Christmas gifts – and a delightful energy. We have been putting together gifts for our residents: chocolates and hats and scarves. But now, with the huge addition donated by The Harvester, we can make sure each and every resident feels considered this Christmas.

Many residents have unstable relationships with family due to a wide range of reasons. We want to make sure that no matter what, our residents feel like they are part of a community here. A sense of belonging goes a long way. Having a gift to open on Christmas morning is unimaginably valued by our residents. We can’t thank Harvester Derby Pool Wallasey enough for the difference they have made.

All readers out there: if you would like to donate any gifts next year, please do get in touch! We would love to introduce you to our community.

 

Christmas Card Competition

Throughout November and December, our residents have been designing Christmas Cards for an inhouse competition. Designs ranged from themes of Liverpool and Birkenhead to homelessness at Christmas.

The winning design was the creation of Ste – an exuberant member of our community who lights up any room he walks into. His design highlights that anyone can become homeless – it’s all too easy for things people to end up on the streets once their lives take an unexpected turn.

We have posted his card to organisations and friends throughout the area. Ste was happy to sign them himself and showcase his contribution to our hostel this year.

We were glad to gift him with a Christmas hamper as a well earned prize – filled with a range of treats including a jumper donated by Jack & Jones at Cheshire Oaks and a gift set from The Body Shop. Rita, one of our art session leaders, also wanted to gift him with art supplies to ensure that his creative prowess is unrestricted.

 

 

 

 

Alison McGovern MP and Ste

MP visit

Our local MP – and the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness – came to visit us on the same day that we announced the winner of the Christmas Card Competition.

Her visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase our work and to highlight both the challenges and strengths of our hostel community.

During the visit, Alison was given a tour and spent time speaking with a range of staff and residents, taking the time to listen to lived experiences and understand the realities of homelessness in Birkenhead. Our newly appointed CEO, Nanette Mellor, shared her vision for YMCA Wirral as we look ahead to 2026, outlining our ambitions to develop services.

This visit came in the wake of The National Plan to End Homelessness, which amongst other things, looks to halve rough sleeping rates. We plan to stay in close contact with Alison McGovern MP and her team in order to provide local insight into the impact of homelessness throughout Birkenhead and the wider area.

Alison also highlighted the importance of access to representation and support, encouraging residents to attend her local surgeries. With the recent launch of our Digital Inclusion project, residents now have access to the internet and email, enabling them to book appointments and engage more easily with local services—another step towards empowerment.

 

 

What else is planned?

Arts and Crafts: Our December calendar is packed with festivities. The Christmas decorations set the scene for a range of activities. We have hosted an initial Christmas movie night with snacks, and another is due to take place on Christmas Eve (of course). We have a range of Christmas themed arts and crafts sessions hosted by Pam, Rita and Claire. So far, sessions have included making baubles to decorate one of our many trees.

Liverpool Echo: We were pleased to welcome a journalist from the Liverpool Echo to the hostel, who spent time with our team learning more about the challenges facing people experiencing homelessness across Wirral and specifically Birkenhead. The conversation focused on the changing landscape of addiction and substance misuse. Opportunities like this are vital in helping to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and address the misconceptions that often surround homelessness. The Liverpool Echo also spoke directly with several residents who generously shared their own experiences. Speaking openly about personal journeys takes courage, and we are always deeply grateful to those who choose to have their voices heard. The visit also gave the journalist a chance to see how we approach Christmas at YMCA Wirral, and we’re looking forward to seeing the feature published next week—keep an eye out!
Christmas Day itself:It wouldn’t be Christmas without a proper Christmas meal. As a service that operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, the hostel remains open throughout the festive period, and we mark Christmas Day much like any other household would. While some residents are able to spend the day with family or friends, many will remain here, celebrating within our own community.

What has been especially heartening is hearing from residents who, despite having family to visit, plan to split their time between home and the hostel so they can be present for those who don’t have anyone else to turn to. It’s moments like these that reflect the genuine care, solidarity, and sense of belonging that exists within our hostel community.

To ‘wrap’ things up…

As you might imagine, we face a vast range of issues throughout a twelve month period. Whether it’s seeing an influx of those rough sleeping or in the worst case scenarios – losing members of our community who have passed away due to health and/or addiction challenges, there is a great need to come together and put aside time to celebrate the community – no matter how dire things may seem at times.

 

We at YMCA Wirral wish you a Merry Christmas! Do reach out if you have any questions to communications@ymcawirral.org.uk