Warmth in every plate: Grosvenor House’s Christmas Lunch for the Homeless
On 11 December, staff from local care home, Grosvenor House in St Leonards-On-Sea, spread warmth and kindness across the local community by hosting a full Christmas lunch for 40 people supported by the Bexhill & Rother Homelessness Unity Group (HUG).
From left-to-right: Amanda Newport – Grosvenor House Home Manager, Shona King– Abraha – Greensleeves Director of Business Development, Mandy Whittingham – Greensleeves Clinical & HR Support Manager, Steve Morton – Greensleeves Head of Health, Wellbeing & Dementia, Angela Cooper – Greensleeves Family Liaison Manager, Maria Afrah – Greensleeves Resident Experience & Feedback Officer and Tristan Smith- Greensleeves Regulation and Compliance Officer.
The entire Christmas meal was funded and organised by Grosvenor House, which is run by non-profit care organisation Greensleeves Care in Hastings. A number of staff from the home attended on the day affectionately dubbed “the glamorous waiters” and served lunch alongside central office management from the charity.
The menu was specially crafted by Greensleeves Care’s Head of Health, Wellbeing and Dementia and qualified chef, Steve Morton, and included dishes such as spiced parsnip & apple soup, roast crown of turkey with all the trimmings, basil roasted fillet of salmon, chocolate brownie stack, and Christmas pudding.
In addition to the three-course meal, the home donated a 10-litre soup kettle, dinner plates and cutlery to help HUG continue providing hot food throughout the winter.
Greensleeves Care Home Manager, Amanda Newport, says: “When we learned more about HUG and the vital support they offer including providing hot meals, somewhere to shower, washing facilities and a warm welcome, we knew we wanted to give something back…Our residents and staff were incredibly proud to be involved.
“HUG is built on kindness, dignity and inclusion and these values resonate deeply with us. This wasn’t just about a meal: it was about recognising our shared community and making sure people felt cared for, especially at a time of year that can be emotionally difficult for many.”
This initiative formed part of Greensleeves Care’s wider Warmth of Care winter campaign, which highlights the importance of compassion, connection and practical support for older people in the community during the colder months.
Amanda explains that the campaign aims to help people feel good about care and reinforce the role that the Greensleeves homes play in their local communities. “Nearly one in two adults in England increase the support they give to older relatives during winter, and it’s a key time to spot growing care needs and explore longer-term solutions,” she says. “We’re here to help and offer support, not just to our residents and their families, but anyone caring for an older person at home or in the community.
Greensleeves’ resources are free online for anyone to access, and both care homes will be open from 2 to 8 February 2026 for their Big Warm Up week: Grosvenor House and Whitegates care home in Westfield. “It will be an opportunity to talk through practical information, ask questions and look into care options in a relaxed and welcoming environment.”
Families wanting advice on keeping older relatives safe, warm and well during winter can visit greensleeves.org.uk/WarmthOfCare.
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