🏡 Homelessness Support Over Christmas
Crisis at Christmas Centres (24–28 December)
Crisis at Christmas Centres open from Wednesday 24 December to Sunday 28 December, providing adults who are homeless (including people sleeping rough, sofa surfing, or staying in night shelters) with a warm, welcoming place during the day.
These are day centres (not overnight shelters) offering:
- Hot meals
- Advice and information about homelessness
- Showers and haircuts
- Healthcare support
- Computer access
- Activities including crafts, films, TV, games, and a football tournament
Opening hours: 10:00am–5:00pm
London Centre Locations
- Central London (Pimlico)
Pimlico Academy, 36 Lupus Street, Pimlico, SW1V 3AT - East London (Stratford)
School 21, Pitchford Street, Stratford, E15 4RZ - West London (Paddington)
City of Westminster College, Paddington Green, W2 1NB
🥣 The Manna Day Centre
The Manna Day Centre supports people experiencing homelessness with free food, showers, and sometimes medical help, donations, and advice.
Address:
Melior Street, London SE1 3QP
Meals:
- Free breakfast: 8:30am–9:30am
- Free lunch: 11:30am–1:30pm
(Meals are sit-down, in sittings of 40 people at a time.)
Christmas opening:
- Open: 22–23 December
- Closed: 24–28 December
- Reopens: 29 December, then open daily
🚶 Streetlink (Rough Sleeping Support)
Streetlink connects people sleeping rough (on the street, in parks, or on buses) with local outreach teams.
If you are sleeping rough and contact Streetlink:
- Outreach workers will try to find you late at night or early in the morning
- They may be able to find accommodation (sometimes the same night, sometimes longer)
How to contact Streetlink:
- Website: https://thestreetlink.org.uk/location
- Phone: 0300 500 0914
📞 Interpreters are available by phone (wait times can be long — please stay on the line).
🕒 Streetlink runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
ℹ️ Advice – Southwark Citizens Advice Bureau
Southwark Citizens Advice provides free advice on:
- Benefits
- Debt
- Housing
- Homelessness
Christmas Opening Hours
Drop-in (97 Peckham High Street, SE15 5RS):
- 22 December: 10:00am–2:00pm
- 23 December: 10:00am–2:00pm
- 24 December: 10:00am–2:00pm
- 2 January: 10:00am–2:00pm
Phone advice only (0808 278 7849):
- 29 December: 9:30am–4:30pm
- 30 December: 9:30am–4:30pm
- 31 December: 9:30am–4:30pm
🍚 Free Food in and Near Southwark
Brixton Soup Kitchen
Address: Dominoes Community Centre,
297–299 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8RP
Opening times:
- Monday–Friday: 10:00am–3:00pm
- Open as usual except 26 December
Christmas Special (Families):
- 21 December, 12:30pm–4:30pm
- Location: 47 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ
- Food, drinks, activities for all ages, and free gifts for children
FoodCycle Peckham
Address: All Saints Church, Blenheim Grove, Peckham, SE15 4QS
Opening:
- Saturdays, 5:30pm–7:00pm
- Free hot meal for anyone in the community
- Open as usual except 27 December
Food on Christmas Day (25 December)
- Brixton Soup Kitchen
Dominoes Community Centre, SW9 8RP
⏰ 10:00am–2:00pm - Cummin Up Christmas Day Meal
389 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6NZ
⏰ 1:00pm–6:00pm
Free Caribbean Christmas dinner for anyone in the community
The Albrighton Community Centre
Address: 37 Albrighton Road, London, SE22 8AH
Not a hot meal, but free groceries and food to cook at home.
Christmas opening:
- Monday 22 December: 1:00pm–3:00pm
- Tuesday 23 December: 1:00pm–3:00pm
- Wednesday 24 December: 11:00am–3:00pm
- Thursday 25 December: Closed
Reopens Monday 29 December as usual.
Foodbank Vouchers – Trussell Trust
If you need emergency food support, call the free and confidential helpline:
📞 0808 208 2138
🕘 Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
Closed: 25–26 December and 1 January
Interpreters available — please ask if English is difficult.
🔥 Warm Spaces in and Near Southwark
Libraries
Local libraries are open as warm spaces and offer:
- Seating
- Heating
- Computer and internet access
Southwark Libraries Christmas hours:
- Open as usual except:
- 24 December (close at 1:00pm)
- 25–26 December (closed)
- 1 January (closed)
Nearby libraries:
- Peckham Library
122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR
Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri: 9am–8pm
Wed: 10am–8pm
Sat: 10am–5pm
Sun: 12pm–4pm - Camberwell Library
48 Camberwell Green, SE5 7AL
Mon–Fri: 9am–8pm
Sat: 9am–5pm
Sun: 12pm–4pm - Southwark Heritage Centre & Walworth Library
145–147 Walworth Road, SE17 1RW
Mon–Fri: 10am–8pm
Sat: 10am–5pm
Sun: 12pm–4pm
More libraries can be found here:
https://www.southwark.gov.uk/culture-and-sport/libraries/find-library?page=0
🏥 Physical & Mental Health Support
🚨 Emergencies
For life-threatening physical or mental health emergencies:
📞 Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E
(Interpreters available)
❗ Urgent (Not Life-Threatening)
📞 Call 111 (NHS helpline)
Ask for an interpreter if needed.
❕ Non-Urgent Health Issues
- Contact your GP if you have one
- If staying in a Home Office hotel, ask reception about seeing a health inclusion team or booking a GP appointment
🧠 Mental Health Support
If you are feeling low or need someone to talk to:
📞 Samaritans – 116 123
Available 24/7, free, confidential, for anyone in emotional distress.