Capturing Cardiff - homelessness at Christmas time...

[Marine Girot]

Christmas is the time a lights, family, enjoyment and celebrations.

That's what makes it such a contrast between the pure consumerism of most people and the situation of homeless people at a time of winter sports which is also a time of cold and damp weather.

Mike's story: Mike is 40 years old. On the Saturday morning when I see him, it is raining gently but it is quite freezing. He is sitting in a blue waterproof jacket on the cold floor of Queen Street at the corner of Churchill Road. His two dogs sit next to him on a blanket, each wearing a jumper. He tells me he usually sleeps in the train station or in car parks. He sleeps in a sleeping bag with some blankets. All his stuff are in his rucksack beside him and in another bag he hides somewhere. He only has a pair of jumpers and a blanket for his two dogs, Chloe and Ellie, to keep them warm, his sleeping bag and some extra blankets. Mikes tells me he travelled a lot and has been into a two shelters in Gloucester. But there, he has been bullied. Some drug users nicked his stuff, his radio, his little TV... He took drugs himself for three years. But he does not want to go back on it and tries to keep away from drugs and drugs users. And one day, Mike would like to have his own van and a house or a flat. And if possible, a job as well.

Some organisations and associations try to help homeless people during that difficult period. Because if Christmas is the time of family for most of us, it is the time of loneliness for most homeless people.

Big Issue is a weekly magazine sold on the streets by homeless and vulnerable people. It gives them a legitimate income (the sellers buy the magazine 75p. and sell it 1.50, keeping the difference) and a voice in the media.

Cardiff Winter Bus is not an ordinary bus;

it has been launched by the Salvation Army and the City Centre Team and provides a safe and warm place to homeless people during Winter. There, they can escape the cold of the streets and benefit from different services, such as health care and assistance.

At Cardiff University, the Christian association is also concerned about the issue of homeless people at this critical time of the year. So, before the Christmas break, the students of the association have organised a Christmas party for the homeless people in the Centre.

There was everything which was needed for a wonderful Christmas Party:

Songs...

...food and drinks...

...presents...

And the joy was on every face!

The Huggard Centre is a charity which cannot but be named when it comes to the subject of homelessness. The centre has a staff of about 20 people and runs an emergency bed unit as well as a day centre, and has a special scheme for the Winter month from November to April.

The emergency bed unit counts 20 beds which are permanently occupied because as soon as one bed is left free by a homeless person, it is given to another homeless person the very same day. During the Winter months, homeless people can also come in the centre and sleep there on the floor instead of being in the streets outside in the freezing cold.

The day centre is open almost 12 hours a day, seven days a week from 8.45 am to 8 pm.

It offers activities to get the homeless people involved in doing things.

Nigel is one of the homeless people who use the day centre. He came out of prison last May and used to take drugs. But he decided to get himself clean.

"I became volunteer in the kitchen. I do everything: the cooking, the service..."

The day centre offers indeed soup, bread and vegetable to homeless people so that they can have a hot meal. And Nigel takes part in the process. "I don't want to sit all the afternoon doing nothing. I want to occupy myself. Some people don't really want to change but I took the decision. I want to change."

Last week, he went on a trip with the centre in Machynlleth, in North Wales for four days. And he had "a fantastic time".

For Christmas, the Huggard centre will have a special week. And around a hundred people should attend the Christmas dinner. It will be a four course meal and presents will be given. Besides, vulnerable people, as well as homeless people, will be able to join the party.

[matthew yeomans]

This is pretty good. I like the way you don't just rely on the text to help tell the story (which is also quite well written). I think changing the font for the personal story doesn't work - too confusing to read. Also, where is the audio backstory?