Can you help local homeless charities The Upper Room or Barons Court Project by buying one of their festive Christmas cards?

If so, it could make a huge difference to the life of a local person in need.

The Shepherd's Bush charity, The Upper Room, based at St Saviour’s Church in Cobbold Road, is selling a set of Christmas cards featuring brightly coloured front doors.

Appropriately for front door-themed charity cards, the Wendell Park based project is being supported by Hammersmith and Chiswick estate agency Horton and Garton, whose owner John Horton said: “This is such a worthwhile charity, and its work becomes more urgent as winter sets in.”

It is also financially supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

The Upper Room hopes to raise £40,000 through its Big Give Christmas Challenge. The funding will be used to support its award-winning UR4Driving project, which teaches young at-risk adults and ex-offenders to drive in return for 80 hours’ voluntary work.

“While our local community has been fantastic in supporting us, our ability to run normal fundraising events and activities has been severely affected by the pandemic,” explained Chris Francis, chief executive of The Upper Room.

The sets of cards, which feature Christmas wreaths – some professional, some home-made – hanging on local front doors, are available in packs of 10 for £10 (plus postage), and can be ordered here.

The charity is close to the heart of our H&F Mayor Cllr PJ Murphy who has already put in his order for a pack.

He said, “H&F is a borough for all and it’s amazing to see residents working together to support those in need, especially during the festive season. The money raised will be invaluable to the work The Upper Room do, and I thank anyone who supports the cause.”

The scheme gives the charity’s clientele the skills to secure a job and avoid reoffending as part of its goal to make them economically independent.

All of the images were taken locally by Hammersmith photographer Annabel Moeller.

Artistic guests of the Barons Court Project, Talgarth Road, have directly contributed to this year’s Christmas cards.

Barons Court Project is the only drop-in centre in Hammersmith & Fulham to support people that are on low incomes, living with homelessness or are vulnerable to mental health issues. The charity is also financially supported by H&F Council.

The Christmas cards are designed by the project’s guests in their weekly ‘Home(Less)Made’ art therapy group. The sessions are designed to help tackle isolation, encourage creativity, and support attendees channelling their emotions in a positive way.

The Barons Court Project artists are also designing the Mayor’s animated Christmas card this year.

Project manager Michael Angus runs the centre with a team of volunteers, providing showers, meals, phone charging, computer access and laundry services to those in need.

Barons Court Project also works to offer wellness activities for their guests, including yoga, music and art workshops, and sessions around life skills including cooking, IT and employability.

The charity relies on donations to fund their services and it hopes to raise essential funds through its card sales. Buying a laminated card contributes to the artists and Barons Court Project as all profits are split 50/50.

Cards are sold individually and in multi-packs of 10 and include festive images of snowy scenes, baubles, and Christmas trees.

You can order the cards online here.

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December 13, 2021