The homeless population of Glasgow are a group of people widely misunderstood. Individuals are often branded as "junkies" and "losers", when in fact every single person has a story to tell. I spent this past summer working within the organisations that try to ease the suffering of Glasgow's homeless, providing them with the basic needs most of us take for granted. The Wayside Club and The Lodging House Mission provide food, shelter and much needed social interaction to those facing homelessness. As Christmas approaches and the Scottish weather only makes life worse for those living on the streets I am hoping to raise as much money as I can for this community. The individuals that attend The Lodging House Mission and The Wayside Club welcomed me with open arms into their close community and working among them over the summer is an experience I will carry with me forever. I will be forever grateful to the volunteers and service users at these two wonderful organisations not only for being so welcoming and assisting me with my thesis research, but for broadening my mind and teaching me to appreciate everything I am blessed with as well as teaching me there is beauty and kindness within everyone no matter what walk of life they come from or what they may appear to be on the outside. To say thank you to The Wayside Club and LHM and to raise as much money as possible, I am using my 21st birthday as an excuse to promote my fundraising. Please dig deep across the holiday period and let's try and help out these two amazing organisations and the even more amazing individuals involved with them! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Check out The Lodging House Mission:

https://lhm-glasgow.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/LodgingHouseMission/

and The Wayside Club:

https://www.thewaysideclubcentre.co.uk/