Appeal gifts will help young people get their lives back on track

ONE of the groups that will benefit from The News Comfort and Joy Christmas Campaign has told how it could transform lives.
Staff and residents of the Portsmouth Foyer who are supporting The News Comfort and Joy Christmas Campaign Picture: Portsmouth FoyerStaff and residents of the Portsmouth Foyer who are supporting The News Comfort and Joy Christmas Campaign Picture: Portsmouth Foyer
Staff and residents of the Portsmouth Foyer who are supporting The News Comfort and Joy Christmas Campaign Picture: Portsmouth Foyer

We’re asking people to donate a £5 supermarket voucher, that will go to someone in need.

Portsmouth Foyer has been supporting young people in the city for over 20 years and has received help from the church over the past few years.

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Chris Holmes, who works at the centre, said: ‘This campaign is a fantastic effort.

Chris Holmes from Two SaintsChris Holmes from Two Saints
Chris Holmes from Two Saints

‘It means young people across Portsmouth who aren’t going to get anything this Christmas will be able to buy themselves a little something. Our young people have always been thankful for donations and I know these cards and vouchers will mean a lot to them.’

The centre, in Greetham Street, can provide accommodation and assistance to 48 individuals aged between 16 and 25.

Chris said: ‘We provide young people with security and we teach them life skills such as cooking, cleaning and filling out forms in the hope that when they leave us they will be equipped for the world.

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Youngsters tend to stay with us between six months and a year but our services are bespoke for individuals.’

Chris Holmes from Two SaintsChris Holmes from Two Saints
Chris Holmes from Two Saints

The charity has had many successes with some of its clients turning their lives around for the better.

Chris said: ‘Ideally with our clients we like to mediate between them and their parents and get them back to living with their families.

‘But in some cases they have come to us because the problem is their parent not caring for them or the parent themselves is struggling with issues.

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‘So we have to have a multi-angled approach in dealing with our young people as they are all individuals with individual problems.

‘Overall we believe we have had a massive impact on young people’s lives in our city.’

Christmas cards and vouchers will be distributed to the Portsmouth Foyer as well as the other 10 groups as part of Comfort and Joy Christmas Campaign.

For more details on how to get involved please see below.

Chris added: ‘The campaign makes our young people feel like other people care and it is really good to encourage that community spirit as it really can make a massive difference to young people’s lives.’

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