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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Damien Edgar

Christmas party for Belfast's homeless thrown by local businesses

A group of Belfast businesses banded together to throw a Christmas party for some of the city's most vulnerable on Monday.

OutsideIn organised the festivities, which lined up with the business' own efforts to help those who find themselves with no home.

The local clothing brand teamed up with 11 other companies to help give over 70 homeless people a Christmas party at Trademarket, which featured practical gifts.

Read more: "I can't do this much longer" - Homeless couple on the terror of sleeping rough

David told Belfast Live that the idea was to try and show staff what the business was all about while giving back to some of the most vulnerable.

"For me it was more than just giving out clothing, it was spending quality time with people experiencing homelessness, hearing their stories and letting them know their worth," he said.

"Every year that we do this, it's seen as the best day of the year for us but we get a lot of people we help saying it's something they look forward to.

"For a lot of the team this was their first year doing it and I think it really hit home face-to-face what homelessness is looking like.

"Especially with the housing and inflation crises, there's a lot more people on the streets."

David went on to say that the businesses and organisations that took part had got together to try and look at some of the practical items that might best benefit those sleeping rough.

"We had five or six different food vendors, we had people giving haircuts, we had PIPS charity giving suicide-prevention help," he said.

"We had Homeless Period Belfast giving out period kits with water bottles and messages of encouragement, so it was very much all these services in Belfast coming together and thinking how we can give back at Christmas.

"Then with regards our clothing, they couldn't believe that they got to choose the clothing items and foods, they weren't just given something.

"They were able to pick what they wanted, certain sizes, certain colours - that's a big part of it for me.

"We choose our own clothing and I want someone experiencing homelessness to know they have the dignity and worth to be able to go and pick their own sizes and colours and qualities.

"It was like a full-on day for them and I think seeing the smiles on their faces make it worth it."

OutsideIn has helping people experiencing homeless at the core of its business, through it's 'Wear One, Share One' policy, which sees one item of clothing donated to a person without a home, for every item of clothing that is bought.

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