Shipley church ready to serve community on Christmas Day

Festive preparations are underway at Shipley Salvation Army as they get ready to cook more than a hundred Christmas dinners to be served at church on Christmas Day and distributed to people forced to sleep on the streets. 

Led by Salvation Army member and volunteer Julie Wright, the church and charity has been co-ordinating the Christmas Day meal for 15 years in a bid to tackle isolation and support those who may find this time of year tough. 

Working with Shipley Baptist Church in New Kirkgate, which will host the meal this year, they will cook turkey and all the trimmings, provide mince pies, Christmas pudding and gifts to guests. Last year they served almost 130 meals, around 50 to people attending the church and 77 delivered to people sleeping on the streets of Bradford. 

It comes as a Salvation Army commissioned survey shows that almost 200,000 people across Yorkshire and Humber will be spending Christmas Day alone. The nationally representative survey of 4384 UK adults also revealed that nearly one in twelve have gone more than a month without a face-to-face conversation with another adult, not including a quick exchange with a stranger.

Julie said: “Christmas can be tough. We have a lot of guests who would be on their own without family, so we want to provide a fun, warm and safe place for people to be so they don’t have to be alone. It helps tackle isolation and represents the true meaning of Christmas. 

“We prep all the veg on Christmas Eve then come back to church at 8.30am on Christmas Day to start the cooking. We have a few volunteers, all with different roles from cooking to driving and delivering to those who just want to talk and befriend our guests, which is brilliant because for some of them the only people they will see on that day is us. 

“There’s a wonderful atmosphere with people from ages 35 to 80 eating together. Some people will come every year so they get to know each other and friendships form. Last year we had a gentleman join us for the first time and he asked if he could get up and sing some carols, which was so nice.” 

Christmas dinner takes place at 12.30pm so before that they are busy plating up meals in takeaway boxes to deliver to people who are sleeping rough. 

Julie continued: “We deliver to a few buildings in Bradford where rough sleepers seek shelter. We delivered 77 meals to those areas last year. We know that Christmas can be particularly difficult for people forced to sleep on cold hard surfaces who might be estranged from family, so our message is that we are here and we care.

“Last year we also delivered to about 10 people who are housebound. I work for a care company so a lot of our vulnerable service users won’t see anyone on Christmas Day apart from their carers. We want to make sure nobody is left out.” 

The Salvation Army would not be able to do what it does without the generous volunteers who give up their time and donations made by many, including Bradford Council and the Rotary Club. 

Julie added: “People want to help and that’s the spirit of Christmas. Last year one guest called me over and said ‘I wouldn’t have any of this if it wasn’t for you’ and at that point I started to tear up a bit because, even though you don’t do it for the thanks, you realise what a difference it makes to people.” 

Shipley Salvation Army leader Captain Laura McLean, said: “This Christmas The Salvation Army is putting belief into action, and you can see that here in Shipley with Julie and the team of volunteers. They embody the spirit of Christmas bringing hope and joy to people who find Christmas tough and making sure they are not alone. Thank you to each and everyone of you who gives up your time to make this day special.” 

If you would like to join on Christmas Day please do get in touch with Shipley Salvation Army by emailing shipley@salvationarmy.org.uk or phoning Julie on 07703 518768.