‘Elf and safety goes mad for Christmas!

More than 100 homeless residents in Brighton & Hove City Council hostels will receive presents this year after the council’s Health and Safety Team collected more than 600 donations.

Every year the team organises a collection from some of the council’s 7,000 staff and this year’s target of 100 was well beaten. The gifts were restricted to warm clothing such as socks, scarfs, gloves, hats and underwear as well as toiletries, chocolates and sweets.

The presents will be shared between the 111 residents spread out across West Pier Project, Glenwood Lodge and New Steine Mews.

Cllr Bill Randall, chair of the housing committee, said:

“Christmas is a special time for everyone but for those that are homeless it can be the hardest time of the year.  For many of the residents these gifts will be the only ones they receive this year.

“Any kind of life change from losing a job to a relationship breaking down can lead to homelessness so the work that the council and other organisations do in the city to help people in their hour of need is vital.

“Every year the council’s Health and Safety Team organise this collection and this year they have excelled themselves so that homeless residents can join in with the Christmas spirit.”