For many people, the highlight of the Christmas holiday is enjoying some festive food alongside their family and friends.
For those less fortunate, tireless volunteers are on hand to help make Christmas a happy time for all, whether that be through special Christmas Day celebrations for homeless and vulnerable people, or giving out free food all year round.
Here are just a handful of charities in Swindon helping to feed those in need that you can support this Christmas.
Christmas Care
Christmas Care is a charity that has been helping vulnerable people in the Swindon area since 1988. They are open throughout the holiday period as a replacement for the charities that are closed over Christmas.
Volunteers at The Haven, Queens Drive, are providing two hot meals a day to homeless and vulnerable people on Christmas Day.
A full English breakfast will be served in the morning, while Christmas dinner is on the menu in the afternoon, as well as a host of other options depending on what food is donated.
The drop-in day centre is open from 9am to 5.30pm from December 23 to December 28, and is also open until 3pm on Sunday, December 29.
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Big Breakfast Plus
Another Swindon-based charity welcoming those in need with open arms is Big Breakfast Plus. Operating out of The Pilgrim Centre on Regent Circus, they rely on donations from the public to provide a free cooked breakfast, as well as cereal, toast and unlimited refills of hot drinks, to anyone who needs it.
The centre caters for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, living in temporary accommodation or without heating or practical cooking facilities.
Big Breakfast Plus' tireless volunteers are taking a brief break over the Christmas period as Christmas Care step in to help those in need, but will still be serving breakfast between 7.30am and 9am up to December 23, and from December 30.
The Filling Station
Looking ahead to the new year, the Filling Station remains on hand to help vulnerable people across Swindon.
The mobile kitchen has been in operation for over 20 years, and can be found in the loading bay on Queen Street, near Bridge Street, every Thursday between 7pm and 8.15pm.
The charity's team serves soup, hot and cold drinks, hotdogs, cakes and biscuits, as well as handing out care packages containing basic essentials.
The Filling Station will be closed on Boxing Day this year (Thursday, December 26), but will be back open on Thursday, January 2 as its volunteers continue to selflessly help others in 2025.
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