‘Dinner, humanity and love’ served up for Christmas

Across the south of England, people are opening their doors on Christmas Day to offer lunch to strangers.

A homelessness charity, a chicken restaurant, a Royal British Legion branch and a volunteer who hosts asylum seekers are among those providing free fare and festive community spirit.

“There’s a lot of animosity, especially in the UK, as regards Islam,” says Kasim Aziz, who runs Manzanos Peri Peri in Reading.

On Christmas Day, the chicken restaurant is offering free meals to people in need between 13:00 and 16:00 GMT.

Mr Aziz, who expects anywhere between 20 and 100 customers, says it is a way of using Islamic charitable principles to do good and break down barriers.

“In Islam, to feed someone is seen as a very, very high blessing,” the manager says.

“This is just a way to bring the whole community together.”

Bournemouth homelessness charity We Are Humans has invited rough sleepers to a Christmas lunch.

It expects 60 out of about 80 rough sleepers in the town to turn up at its cafe in Sea Road, Boscombe, for “dinner, humanity and love”.

A local guitarist has volunteered to provide musical entertainment.

Founder Andrew Talbot, who used to sleep rough on the Isle of Wight, says the charity prides itself on being open on Christmas Day every year.

“Those special times of year when you expect and need and want your family and friends around you are probably the worst days being homeless,” he says.

“Let’s not forget – these are someone’s family members. They are real people.”

In 2024, Mary Hillman from the Royal British Legion in Romsey, Hampshire, received an email about a man who was going to be alone on Christmas Day.

“His sister reached out to see if we knew of any events happening,” she recalls. “So I said, ‘You know what, we’ll do it.'”

As word spread, one guest became 25. This year, 37 people are booked in for a free Christmas lunch and gift.

Ms Hillman says the event is not just for military veterans.

“There are no restrictions, no stigma. A lot of people come in by themselves to socialise but some people just want to take their Christmas dinner away.”

Linda King is having two migrants over for Christmas lunch at her home in Stadhampton, Oxfordshire.

One is an Iraqi friend while the other is an African man she has never met who is alone this Christmas.

For many years, Ms King has been a volunteer host for Oxford charity Asylum Welcome, which helps to settle asylum seekers when their claims are processed.

“We enjoy it and it’s a good thing to do,” she says.

“These people would have nowhere to go. We can offer a roof over their heads, warmth, food and company.”