Donate
The Christmas Warehouse is fiction. People living in difficult situations is real. If you finished reading and thought, ‘I wish I could help,’ the charities below are a good place to start. They feed people, house families, give women a safe place to go, and look after the dogs and cats who get them through their worst times. They’re doing the work that matters.
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​Below are organisations doing real, practical work in areas that matter to this book: homelessness and housing, women’s safety and recovery, and animal welfare. Some are big national charities. Some are small groups working a few streets from where this story takes place. Please support them if you can, or find a similar service in your own community.
United Kingdom
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North London Action for the Homeless
A small, community-based charity in Stoke Newington providing free hot meals, clothing, toiletries, and practical support to anyone who needs it. They also help with housing advice, health access, and even offer showers, laundry and haircuts at certain drop-ins. They run out of St Paul’s Church Hall just off Stoke Newington Road, and operate regular meal services where no referral is needed.
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Crisis
A national homelessness charity working all year to help people find a permanent route out of homelessness through housing, jobs, education and wellbeing support. At Christmas they also open services offering warmth, food, safety and company, then connect guests into longer-term help rather than just a one-night shelter.
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Shelter
Shelter is a housing and homelessness charity that gives free expert advice on housing rights, eviction, unsafe accommodation, domestic abuse in the home, and emergency options if you’re at risk of, or currently experiencing, homelessness. They also campaign for systemic change because rising rents and lack of social housing are pushing record numbers of people into temporary accommodation.
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Refuge
Refuge is the UK’s largest specialist charity for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. They run emergency refuges, community outreach and advocacy, and 24/7 support for women trying to leave unsafe situations and rebuild their lives.
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Women’s Aid
Women’s Aid is a federation of local services across England and Wales that delivers life-saving support to women and children experiencing domestic abuse, while also campaigning to change the systems that allow abuse to continue.
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Solace Women’s Aid
London-based charity offering advice, counselling, housing support and safe accommodation for women and children affected by domestic and sexual violence. They specialise in helping women in London find safety and stability so they’re not forced back into dangerous situations.
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StreetVet
A UK charity providing free essential vet care, medication and support to the pets of people experiencing homelessness, and helping hostels become pet-friendly so owners aren’t forced to choose between a bed and their dog.
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Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
One of the UK’s oldest and best known animal charities. Battersea rescues, cares for, rehabilitates and rehomes dogs and cats, and shares expertise with rescue centres across the UK and internationally. They’re “here for every dog and cat,” including animals that arrive in crisis.
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RSPCA (England & Wales)
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the oldest and largest animal welfare organisation in the world. They investigate cruelty, rescue animals, push for stronger animal welfare laws, and work to rehome neglected or abandoned animals.
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Australia
Orange Sky
Orange Sky is an Australian not-for-profit that provides free mobile laundry, warm showers and conversation to people doing it tough. Volunteers drive vans to where people are sleeping, or where they’re couchsurfing or barely holding on, and offer clean clothes, hygiene and human connection without judgement. They now operate across metro and regional Australia.
A Melbourne-based homelessness organisation and community housing provider. They work on the crisis end (getting people somewhere safe tonight), but also on long-term housing solutions and advocacy to end homelessness, not just manage it. They support families, women and young people facing housing insecurity.
RizeUp Australia
RizeUp supports families escaping domestic and family violence. One of the main things they do is fully set up and furnish safe new homes for women and children coming out of crisis accommodation, often with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing. They also provide emergency essentials at short notice when someone needs to leave immediately.
Full Stop Australia
A national service providing free, trauma specialist counselling and support for anyone in Australia impacted by sexual, domestic or family violence. They run phone and online counselling 24/7, including tailored support for LGBTQ+ communities and people dealing with historic abuse or ongoing safety concerns.
An Australian charity working to end period poverty. They collect and distribute period products to women, girls and people who menstruate who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence or severe financial hardship. They run national donation drives and partner with services on the ground to get supplies to the people who need them.
RSPCA Australia
A national animal welfare organisation made up of state and territory RSPCA groups. They rescue, shelter and rehome animals, investigate cruelty complaints under state law, and advocate for better treatment of both pets and farm animals.
Pets in the Park
An Australian volunteer-run charity of vets and vet nurses who provide free veterinary care for the companion animals of people who are homeless or at risk. (Very similar to StreetVet in the UK.)
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Backpack Bed for Homeless is an Australian charity providing life-saving, portable beds to people sleeping rough. Each lightweight Backpack Bed offers warmth, privacy and protection from the elements, giving dignity and safety to those without shelter. The charity works directly with outreach organisations across Australia to ensure beds reach those who need them most, while also advocating for long-term housing solutions and greater public awareness of homelessness.
Care Kits for Kids Queensland is a volunteer-run charity that creates and distributes free care kits filled with essential clothing, hygiene products, toys and comfort items for children in crisis. The kits are given to children entering foster care, escaping domestic violence, experiencing homelessness or facing hardship. Each one is made with care and packed with love to bring comfort, dignity and hope to children when they need it most.
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