Christmas Help

Ways you can help this winter

Want to donate to our Christmas Appeal?

This Christmas can you help us support local people who don’t have a safe place to call home?

‘Without Genesis this city doesn’t even know who I am’ ~ local resident, Dean

As you will know, BaNES is one of the least affordable places in the UK to live, with house prices around 13.4 times the annual earnings*. There are around 2,533 fewer social rented homes in BaNES than equivalent sized authorities.

At Genesis Life Projects we are seeing the reality of this problem. Most of our clients are homeless, in social housing or vulnerably housed (living on a boat, sofa-surfing or at risk of eviction).

Click here to hear Dean’s story.

Want to donate a Genesis Christmas Gift?

This Christmas we have eight gifts to choose from to help support our vulnerable clients at Genesis Life Projects and Bath, Keynsham and Somer Valley Foodbank. 

You can give gift cards to your friends and family like ‘Gifts for local families’ for those coming to our foodbanks in crisis and ‘Christmas Meals for local people’ provided by Genesis Life Projects.  

All donations will help us support our growing number of homeless and vulnerable clients at both Genesis Life Projects and Bath, Keynsham and Somer Valley Foodbank. Click here to go to our Gift Shop to see all eight of our Genesis Christmas Gifts.

Want to help with a care package?  

Each Christmas we love to be able to give Christmas presents to our clients.  We give toiletries, warm items of clothing and edible treats to our Genesis Life Project clients and people who are homeless.  The Genesis staff enjoy taking care and time to personalise gifts as well for each client. Often this is the only gift that a person will receive for Christmas. 

We would welcome donations of the items below for CARE PACKAGES: 

  • Rechargeable torches
  • Sleeping bags
  • Roll mats
  • 1-2 Person Tents
  • New batteries, sizes AA and AAA
  • Men’s clothing like jeans or outdoor trousers
  • Outdoor/Waterproof clothing 
  • Thermos flasks
  • Mobile phones (factory reset)
  • Portable phone chargers
  • Tablets (factory reset)
  • Rucksacks 25 to 90 litre capacity
  • Travel mugs – non leaking
  • Hats
  • Winter coats
  • Thermal underwear
  • Boots, hardwearing shoes & trainers
  • Gloves
  • Toiletries:
    • Shampoo and shower gel (standard size)
    • Tooth brushes and tooth paste
    • Razors and shaving cream
    • Lip balm, moisturising creams
    • Hair brushes, combs and hair bands.

You can see a more extensive list or print an A4 poster HERE.  

Donations can be dropped off at our main office. Please email office@genesistrust.org.uk to make an appointment. All delieries are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY so we can make sure someone is in the office when you arrive. You can also call 01225 463549 to make an appointment.

Want to donate warm clothing?

We support many people who are sleeping rough and are vulnerably housed who do not have the resources necessary to keep themselves warm.

There are two ways you can donate winter clothing: 

Donate used winter clothes that are in good condition.
Please see the list below of things we need. If you have any of these items that you’d like to donate, please email office@genesistrust.org.uk to arrange an appointment to drop off the items at our office. We do not have much storage space so please limit donations to the list below.

  • Winter coats
  • Waterproof coats/trousers
  • Winter hats
  • Winter gloves
  • Warm socks
  • Men’s jeans (size 30-36)
  • Sleeping bags (4 seasons)
  • Blankets
  • Winter footwear (not wellies)
    • Men size 7-10
    • Woman size 5-8

Donate new winter items via Give Today

You can donate new winter items using our Give Today site. All purchases are made online and are delivered directly to our main office. Please click here to visit our Give Today site.

Want to give food?   

If you would like to donate food to Bath, Keynsham & Somer Valley Foodbank, please do this by buying in store and putting the items in one of the collection points. You can see the store locations HERE.

Click here to download at poster of our Foodbank Christmas most needed items list.

Click here for a social media graphic for communication apps like WhatsApp and Messenger.

The items below are our most needed items:

  • Chocolate Boxes
  • Children’s Chocolate Selection Boxes
  • Carrots & Peas (Tinned)
  • Long Life Juice
  • Custard (Tinned)
  • Tinned Ham/Chicken/Salmon
  • Christmas Pudding
  • Mince Pies
  • Biscuit Boxes
  • Other Festive Items
  • Milk (UHT)
  • Mash Instant
  • Deodorant
  • Shampoo
  • Shower Gel/Soap

You can also download the BanktheFood app onto your phone and have our most needed items list available before you shop. Just register and then choose Bath, Keynsham & Somer Valley Foodbank.

You can also donate food using our Give Today site. You can purchase items in our shop and they will be delivered directly to our Foodbank warehouse. Click here to go to our Give Today site.

If you have a larger donation of food, please MAKE AN APPOINTMENT to drop it off at our Foodbank warehouse. Please email info@bksv.foodbank.org.uk to reserve your time slot.  Our drop off day and times are:

  • TUESDAY – 9:00am-4:00pm
  • WEDNESDAY – 9:00am-4:00pm
  • THURSDAY – 9:00am-4:00pm

Want to buy our Christmas cards?

Another way to support homeless and vulnerable people this winter is by purchasing some of our lovely Christmas cards. You can purchase them from our online Gift Shop by clicking here. You can also purchase them at St Michael’s Without Church near Waitrose in the city centre. They have a lovely cafe open between 9:30 and 3:00pm. Have a cup a tea and get your Christmas cards.

Want to send an E-card?

Maybe you forgot someone and it’s too late to post them a card. Or you just want to be more environmentally friendly. You can send someone an e-card and donate what you’d spend on a card and postage to Genesis Trust. All sales of e-cards supports our work with homeless and vulnerable people. Click here to see our line of e-cards.

Want to donate other ways?

  • Donate Furniture
  • Shop using online selling sites
    • You can do your normal Christmas shopping using platforms like EasyFundraising or Give as You Live. They will donate to Genesis Trust at no extra cost to you. You can read more HERE.

Want to give time?  

We can’t do what we do without the help of volunteers. We can’t guarantee that we can accommodate everyone, but if you are interested in giving some time to support homeless and vulnerable people, please email office@genesistrust.org.uk to contact our Volunteer Manager. Thank you very much for your interest in supporting Genesis Trust.  

NONE OF OUR PROJECTS ARE OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY.