Thank you to our wonderful volunteers and donors

Everything we do at New Hope is made possible by the generosity, thoughtfulness, compassion and commitment of our extensive community of super selfless volunteers and donors.

And because of that, we want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to every individual, group and organisation to have supported us over the festive period.

Your donations - whether financial contributions, food, clothing, essential items, or hand-picked Christmas treats for those we help - have made a real and immediate difference. They’ve helped us keep our services running day to day and to ensure that people experiencing homelessness in Watford can access practical help, dignity and hope when they need it most. You have also enabled those we help to share in the joy of Christmas.

We were inundated with donations, on occasion having to process more gifts than we could handle. But each has gone to someone in need and your generosity helps restore one’s faith in human kindness.

Equally invaluable is the gift of time. Our volunteers give their energy, skills and kindness so generously, supporting our services, listening without judgement, and helping to create a welcoming, secure and supportive environment. The impact of their dedication goes far beyond what can be measured – quite simply, it changes lives.

And the volunteers in action? This Christmas we had 11 additional volunteers come in to cook festive roast dinners at the Sanctuary and our recovery service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, which equated to 66 hours of volunteering.

Volunteers also continued to support the Watford Winter Shelter over the entire festive period, and will continue to do so until March, ensuring we could keep the shelter open every single evening.

During this time our regular Haven morning volunteers continued to cook hot breakfasts for anyone visiting the drop-in service.

Volunteer coordinator Nic Platt said: “For many of those we support, the Christmas period can be an incredibly difficult time. The additional help we receive from volunteers over this time is invaluable.”

So, thanks to your combined generosity, New Hope continues to provide vital support to some of the most vulnerable people in our town. You are at the heart of our work, and we simply could not do it without you.

Your efforts have sent a clear message to those experiencing homelessness. That message is: You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You matter. We care.

From everyone at New Hope, and from those whose lives you have touched, thank you for standing with us and for making a difference. Because of you, those currently experiencing homelessness in our town can feel safer, warmer, better fed and a little less afraid this winter.