THIS year has been a hard one for many, and the work of charities across Basingstoke has been more vital than ever before.

The hard work of volunteers across the borough doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas. If anything, many services are busier than ever.

The Gazette reached out to some of Basingstoke’s most prominent support charities and asked them who had gone the extra mile to make sure nobody goes without the basics this festive season.

Here are just some of this town’s true ‘Christmas Angels’.

Brian Young - Basingstoke Food Bank

Brian, 69, from South View has been volunteering at Basingstoke Food Bank with his wife, Christine for about 18 months, but has also supported Basingstoke’s Night Shelter for the past 4 years, while Christine is a First Responder too.

The retired hospitality worker said: “I think people need help in this day and age. Both Christine and myself decided we want to help people. We’re retired so we’ve got some time.

“I am doing about three days a week up there. My main responsibility is to go out shopping for fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs.”

“I also collect from all the supermarkets which have been absolutely brilliant this year. People in Basingstoke are very generous, they are giving more than ever, but we are giving out more than ever too. We served over 1,000 people last month alone.”

When asked what he most enjoyed about volunteering at the Food Bank, Brian said: “Helping people.”

He added: “We are all good mates and we laugh while we are doing it.”

He explained that each day used to be run by a different church group, with Brian belonging to the St Bede’s group, but that now they tend to mix and work together.

“We just work together and pray that we can do some good,” he said.

Over Christmas, many of the volunteers will work longer hours. At the moment, the Food Bank has partnered with Beson to create Christmas hampers, and is also delivering food, which adds an extra layer of organisation.

Brian will be part of the team who will be delivering pre-prepared Christmas dinners to families on Christmas eve.

“We will be doing deliveries right the way through until the vaccine kicks in,” he said.

Brain was emotional as he spoke of the many people in Basingstoke in need of the support: “It’s frightening. The upheaval when people went on to furlough - that 20 per cent for a lot of people was what they bought their food with. We saw people in tears, because they had never had to ask for help before. It’s heartbreaking.”

He added: “You might as well say I’m doing it for me as well, because it makes me feel good. There are a lot of wonderful people in that Food Bank that do much more than I do.”

Jennifer Taylor - Camrose Centre

Jennifer, 53, from Ashford Hill began volunteering with the Camrose Centre, which offers support for homeless and vulnerably housed people in Basingstoke, in early 2019.

“Some of the volunteers have been there for years, so I am relatively new really,” she said.

Jennifer said she felt lucky that she didn’t have to work. She was volunteering at Tadley Primary School, but wanted to do “something else for the community.”

“I wanted to do something that made me feel I would make a difference, and take me out of my comfort zone,” she said.

“I have always had an empathy for homeless people, because I know no one would choose to live like that, but I didn’t know how to approach anyone or what to say.

“I absolutely love it, I really enjoy it. It’s very different to what you think it’s going to be. I thought it would be quite a somber place, but when you get to know some of the clients they start to build trust with you.”

Jennifer volunteers two days a week as a cook and said she tries to make foods that will appeal to all the clients, such as pasta dishes and pies.

She added: “I always make a cheesecake or a chocolate cake as well which needless to say goes down very well!”

Before Covid, the Camrose was seeing around 30-40 people at each session, but coronavirus restrictions mean they can serve only 12 at a time at the moment.

“It’s such a cold time of year, I can’t imagine what it must be like. I realise how lucky I am. If I can just help one person, I feel I have done something.

“They are all so appreciative. They are nice people, and everyone has a different story. It’s a cycle that can be really hard to get out of. People can be very judgmental, and that just be devastating really.

“They come in and relax and they know that they are going to get a hot meal and we have clothes as well. I think quite a lot of them look forward to coming.”

When asked what she most enjoyed about her role, Jennifer said:

She added: “Making people feel that someone does care about them, that’s what makes a difference.”

“All the volunteers are lovely. I have met some lovely friends from volunteering and I look forward to going.”

She added: “I feel privileged to be a part of the Camrose. As volunteers we all feel very valued and we realise that the Camrose couldn’t run without the volunteers.

“It’s just incredible I think, the amount of people that want to do something to do something, that want to help. I am just one out of a huge number of people.”

Tracie Cannings - Spotlight UK

Basingstoke-based Spotlight support children and young people across the area.This year, their Christmas toy drive has meant they have already provided 1,400 Christmas presents to children who wouldn’t otherwise receive anything.

They have also delivered 500 presents to care homes and 300 hampers, and will be delivering Christmas meals to families this year too.

Michaela Riley, founder, said it was very hard to single anyone out as they truly work as a team. However, she told the Gazette that shop manager Tracie is one volunteer who goes “above and beyond”. Tracie has been volunteering with Spotlight for eight years. Despite regularly babysitting her young granddaughter, Tracie has spent hours in the evenings and at weekends volunteering.

For that reason, Michaela sees her as a true Christmas angel.