December 04, 2024
Where to find help this Christmas
LRMN will be closed for the Christmas holiday. Here are some resources if you find yourself in need during the festive period.
The LRMN office will be closed starting on 25 December until we reopen 2 January 2025.
Please note that there may be slight delay in correspondence once our offices reopen.
In this time, if you are an existing LRMN client and have been detained and/or received removal directions, please contact emergency@lrmn.org.uk. Unfortunately, we cannot provide other emergency support for any other issues until our offices reopen.
If you find yourself in need of support this Christmas, please check out the links below for resources offered in our Southeast London community this winter.
For a meal over the Christmas holiday:
The Lewisham Donation Hub is offering both general and food support on 17, 18, 19, 24, 31 December and 2 January. They will be open for food support only on 26 December and fully closed on 25 December and 1 January. Find them at Unit D, Place Ladywell, 261 Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 6AY. However, weather and limited volunteer numbers can close certain parts of the service, so please check their website before visiting.
Feed the Hill is a social supermarket with no membership required, but do bring proof of address. It’s £2 per shop, or free if you can’t afford to pay. It will be open on Wednesdays 10 am-12 pm throughout the holiday period at 367 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AT, except for Wednesday December 25. Instead, the social supermarket will be open on Tuesday December 24 from 12:30 – 2:30 pm.
Clockhouse Community Centre holds a free food bank on Fridays from 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, which can be found at Defiance Walk, Woolwich, London SE18 5QL. This includes Friday 27 December, but please be aware that the Community Centre will be closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
For Christmas dinner:
Rehoboth Community Outreach Club is offering their annual Christmas Dinner on Monday, 23 December from 11 am-3 pm. There will be carol singing, music, hot meals and food parcels to takeaway at Ray Champion Meeting Room, 1-18 Allwood Close, London, SE26 4JP.
Catford Soup Kitchen is offering Christmas Dinner on 25 December, 12-2 pm at 1 Bromley Road Catford, London, SE6 1JX. They are also open over the Christmas and New Year period every Saturday from 11am – 1pm. For questions, reach out to outreach@uckg.org.
The Love Fellowship Lifeline Ministry is offering a free Christmas meal for people in need on their estate. Visit Honor Oak Community Centre, 50 Turnham Road, London, SE4 2JD on 25 December from 2-5 pm. Book your meal by following this link.
Cummin Up Caribbean Takeaway with Taste Soul Good is offering a Christmas day traditional meal with a Caribbean twist. No booking necessary – all welcome with no judgement. Find them at 389 Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 6NZ on 25 December from 1-6 pm.
Christ Church United Reformed Church Bellingham is holding a festive meal on Friday 27 December 12:30 – 1:30pm followed by various activities until 4:30pm. Up to 40 places are available, so book in advance by contacting them at 07905889260 or info@ftconsults.co.uk. Their address is 15 Bellingham Green, London, SE6 3HQ.
Woolwich Common Community Centre is holding a free Christmas dinner from 2-5 pm on Sunday 22 December. On that day, find a freshly cooked roast dinner with all the trimmings, snacks, and hot drinks at 17 Leslie Smith Square, London, SE18 6DW.
Other essential resources and helplines:
The Crisis Mental Health Line for South London and Maudsley is open every day 24/7 – call 0800 731 2864.
Help is available with the Samaritans 24/7 as well. Call 116 123 to reach them.
Lewisham Council’s Customer Service Centre is also open every day, 24 hours a day at 020 8314 6000.
The Silver Line Helpline offers conversation for older individuals and is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day at 0800 470 8090.
If you or someone you love are experiencing gender-based or domestic abuse, Women’s Aid offers support and resources.
For urgent housing needs, please check out this guide created by Shelter.
Visit Good Food Lewisham and Good Food in Greenwich to find even more resources available this holiday season!
Learn more about what we've been up to this year by checking out our news below!