Every year we hold a sponsored Winter Rough Sleep on the first Saturday in December which helps us to provide aid for so many people at Christmas.This year we are also facing the problem that with no way to host the fund-raising gigs here at The Station that also contribute to that and to keeping the help going out over the hardest months which come when the Christmas decs have all gone away for another year, but the coldest and darkest nights and the shortest days are with us.

This year is different too in that we have to work within Covid safe methods - so for the first time as well as those joining us here to rough sleep in our car park, people are joining us from their own gardens and back yards to do for one night what all too many people have to cope with relentlessly.

All funds raised will directly contribute to the community work done by WSO here in Ashton and also carry forward to keep that aid going on when the help is needed most.

Included in the work we will be doing for Christmas will be supporting families in emergency accommodation across Tameside including so many children who have no permanent home of their own, the elderly, vulnerable and isolated who are facing Christmas alone, two local animal shelters who are dealing with unprecedented numbers of unwanted pets, those in the long stay mental health wards at Tameside Hospital and, of course, the homeless men and women who come to my door in real need every day.....the door doesn't close to them here even over the holidays when so many others are shut to them.

Thank you for your support - together we can make this happen and show those in the most need that they are not invisible and that they do matter.

We Shall Overcome xxx