A Living Advent Calendar event is taking place in Ramsgate every night from today (December 1) to December 24.
Between 6:30pm – 8pm each evening there will be a house in Ramsgate that has decorated its door or window for people to go along and view.
The calendar event has been running for the last three years and raises money for charity.
This year it is in aid of RISE, which is the team that helps homeless people with services including the Thanet Winter Shelter.
RISE stands for Rough sleeper Intervention, Support and Empowerment. It was set up to help rough sleepers when trying to find and keep accommodation.
The project is spearheaded by Thanet District Council, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and the Forward Trust. It also involves the Thanet Winter Shelter, Salvation Army, Pathways Ltd and Paramount Independent Property Services.
The Thanet RISE team, which includes a dedicated substance misuse and mental health worker, landlord liaison officers, Serveco and Citizens Advice Thanet, are all co-located at the council’s offices.
The aim is for those in need to get support and help as quickly as possible, taking away the time spent making contact and referrals to other organisations. The scheme also considers the way rough sleepers access support – which can often be too overwhelming if services are offered from different places.
Visitors to the advent calendar properties are asked to make a donation which will go to RISE for the continuation of their work.
A lovely idea, well done people of Ramsgate.