Sunderland captain Luke O’Nien joins in festive fun at The Salvation Army’s Swan Lodge Lifehouse

Sunderland AFC captain Luke O’Nien assisted in bringing seasonal cheer to residents of The Salvation Army’s Swan Lodge Lifehouse in the city.
Christmas may be an especially tough time of year for some of the inmates at the center, and the defender was eager to participate in some of the activities planned to help keep spirits up.

A carol service with the Swan Lodge Choir, speed-gaming, karaoke, a gingerbread house competition, and a three-course supper on Christmas Day are among the two weeks of festive activities.

 

According to the Salvation Army, service manager Christine Ritchie and her dedicated team are also out and about in the community of Hendon, serving meals to vulnerable people and, after partnering with local Italian restaurant Sambuca, ensuring that struggling families have the opportunity to take their children to the Christmas Grotto.
Christine, the manager of The Salvation Army Lifehouse for the past 16 years, stated, “At Swan Lodge, we consider ourselves a family.”

 

 

“For a lot of the lads and lasses it’s difficult at Christmas as they don’t see their family, or the prospect of the New Year comes with certain expectations so it is not always a fun time.”We aim to make it as comfortable and family-oriented as possible for our residents, duplicating what we would have in our own homes and making it as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

“There will be people who do not want to participate, so we will just keep an eye on them and make sure they are okay.” There is no pressure to participate, but we want to create an atmosphere of joy and hope.”

Swan Lodge Utilita Giving Community Organization of the Month received a £500 contribution from the footballer lately.

 

“Having Luke spend some time with our residents and staff meant so much to them; it really boosts morale,” Christine continued. We’d like to thank him and Sunderland AFC for their help this season.”

A carol concert was staged the week before Christmas with The Sally Army band and the Swan Lodge Choir, made up of residents and staff, complete with a ballet performance from some team members!

 

“It was a very refined affair, very high brow – the Swan Lodge Northern Corp de Ballet performing the Nutcracker!” Christine said.

 

“We have something planned every night until New Year’s.” We have baking competitions, karaoke, film nights, a Christmas themed art competition, and’speed gaming,’ where people race to finish board games, which is always entertaining.

 

“On Christmas Day, we’ll have a full meal and Father Christmas will arrive with some presents.” We’re hoping for some special guests as well.”

The environment at Swan Lodge is especially enjoyable this time of year for tenant Jules, 50, who became homeless after splitting with her boyfriend nearly two years ago.

 

“It’s like one big happy family,” she remarked. We’ve got a lot going on in the week before Christmas, including a RuPaul Drag Race organized by one of the residents, and I’ll be singing in the choir and performing a reading during the choir concert. It’s a lot of fun, and you’ll never get bored.

 

“We have a big Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, and the staff puts presents in our rooms.” If I hadn’t been at Swan Lodge for Christmas, I’d still be on the streets, and I believe I’d be dead.”

 

 

Jules now volunteers at The Salvation Army’s Sunderland Citadel church in Cairo Street, where Swan Lodge serves free meals to vulnerable people every Thursday and recently hosted a Christmas lunch.

They are also collaborating with Italian restaurant Sambuca on Christmas Eve to give a free grotto and elf experience for families that are struggling financially this year. The Salvation Army is presenting children with selection boxes and books.

 

“Swan Lodge is very much a part of the community here in Hendon, and working with nearby Salvation Army churches, we are able to extend our help beyond our lads and lasses and support local families through the Christmas Present Appeal, ensuring children have gifts to open on Christmas morning, through providing food parcels and presents for the Grotto,” Christine explained.

“The need in the area this year is greater than ever with cost of living rises so our staff and residents are pleased to be able to help in this way as well.”