The places in Rochdale offering a free hot meal for those in need this Christmas

While it may be the most wonderful time of the year for some of us, others this Christmas will be struggling with the cost of living, facing loneliness or even finding themselves without a roof over their head.

With bills soaring, more people than ever are having to decide between heating their home and putting food on the table over the festive season.

But organisations across the borough will be there to provide free hot meals to make sure people do not go without this festive period.

While some are for people with specific issues, such as those experiencing homelessness, others are keen to welcome anyone of a hot meal and good company.

Here are some of the places offering free Christmas meals on the big day and over the holidays.

---

Angie’s Angels

Christmas Eve dinner – 11am-5pm to 24 December at the Roc & Rolls Café (Reaching Out Centre) on Drake Street

Hot drinks and presents for anyone struggling or homeless; all welcome.

---

Army of Kindness

Empowering Minds and #TheArmyOfKindness will be hosting their seventh annual Christmas meal at St Andrew’s Church in Rochdale on Christmas Day.

The event aims to provide anyone who is lonely, homeless or isolated with a meal on Christmas Day, between 1pm and 4pm.

Advance booking required.

For booking information, contact Sheraz on 07940 470705.

---

Petrus

The homeless charity will be welcoming people for Christmas dinner on the big day – and there will be presents, too.

Doors at the Great George Street hub will open on December 25 between 11.30am and 2pm.

Around 48 service users are currently expected – but the shelter is happy to welcome more.

Sonia Denham, Head of Petrus, said: “No one should be alone at Christmas, and for a lot of our service users, Petrus is like family.

“Last year, we opened our doors on Christmas Day and cooked Christmas dinner for 27 service users. We knew demand would be even higher this year and we’re currently expecting 48 to join us. Our hub will be open from 11.30am to 2pm for anyone who needs us.”

Petrus will also be open over the holidays on the following days.

• Saturday, 24 December – 9am – 1pm
• Sunday, 25 December – 11.30am – 2pm
• Monday, 26 December – 9am – 3pm
• Tuesday, 27 December – Friday, 30th – 9am – 4pm
• Saturday, 31 December – 9am – 1pm

More information can be found here: www.petrus.org.uk/news/our-doors-will-be-open-on-christmas-day-nws-5816

---

Restoring Hope

Darnhill Library will open on Tuesday 27 December where members of staff from the Royal Bengal will cook one hundred hot meals.

Groceries will be given as part of the food pantry scheme, costing £3.50 in exchange for around £15 to £20 worth of goods

The library will be open from 3pm to 6pm on 27 December, and will be serving Indian food, with mild options available.

---

Thrum Hall Church

Every year, for the past 40+ years (excluding 2020 and 2021) the church has held a Christmas Day party for elderly people who would otherwise spend Christmas Day on their own. This is a completely free three-course Christmas dinner followed by tea/coffee and chocolates. 

Part of the service includes picking people up and dropping them home again after the party. The party starts at 12.30pm and finishes around 3pm. There will be carol singing as everyone arrives and then dinner will be served at 1pm. People coming to the party will be picked up between 12 and 12.30 pm and each person will be informed of the person collecting them. 

Last year, 300 Christmas dinners were sent out into the community from the church.

---

Reporting: Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporting Service, & Michelle Kight, Rochdale Online News