Ellie Goulding was joined by Joe Wicks as the duo helped with Crisis’ Christmas services in a bid to tackle rough sleeping in London.
The singer, 37, and the fitness guru, 39, rolled up their sleeves while helping out to provide hot drinks and food, as well as many other activities.
The celebrities were part of the festive opening day in central London – as the homelessness charity was overwhelmed with an unprecedented demand to support people rough.
Burn hitmaker Ellie revealed she was in ‘awe’ o the experience, and said her duties also included playing games and welcoming guests.
Speaking at a launch event for Crisis’s Christmas support services, she told the PA: ‘I’m so in awe of Crisis and the volunteers I meet every time I come here. They’ve been doing this for such a long time, and I’ve been supporting for a long time.
‘I’ve always cared about homelessness since I was really, really young. It was just something that always really affected me.
Ellie Goulding (pictured), 37, was joined by Joe Wicks, 39, as the duo helped with Crisis’ Christmas services in a bid to tackle rough sleeping in London
The singer and the fitness guru (pictured) rolled up their sleeves while helping out to provide hot drinks and food, as well as many other activities
‘If I saw people sleeping rough, it just really triggered me and affected me, and so I always said to myself, if I was ever in a position where I could help and support and get involved then I would, which is why I’ve sort of been dedicated to it.
‘And it’s not like it’s getting any better, homelessness is still on the rise. There’s over 300,000 people homeless without a proper home this Christmas.
‘So we need more people to get involved with Crisis, and not just at Christmas but throughout the year as well. We need more volunteers, more people to get involved, and just more people to care.’
The Love Me Like You Do singer, who has worked with the charity for more than 10 years, added: ‘I’m here to help, I’m here to do whatever is required of me.
‘I come every year, and I’ve just been serving some tea, coffee, and later on I’ll be doing some other bits and pieces, various things.
‘Everyone’s working really hard, lots of incredible volunteers here, lots of friendly faces. It’s a very warm and cosy and safe environment, and it’s always a pleasure to be here.’
Meanwhile Joe – who was volunteering with the charity for the first time, said: ‘In this day and age, we shouldn’t have people sleeping rough on the streets. It’s freezing cold, people need to be looked after.
‘I think naturally, as an empath, I care about people and we’ve been raising money for Crisis ourselves as a business, The Body Coach, this month. So I was invited along to be a volunteer.
‘I’ve always cared about homelessness since I was really, really young. It was just something that always really affected me,’ Ellie told PA at the event
‘In this day and age, we shouldn’t have people sleeping rough on the streets. It’s freezing cold, people need to be looked after,’ said Joe
‘I come every year, and I’ve just been serving some tea, coffee, and later on I’ll be doing some other bits and pieces, various things,’ the fitness coach added
Bridgerton star Sam Phillips also joined the team, saying: ‘I just feel very passionately that no one should have to be on the streets, and it’s only with organisations like Crisis that we can change that for people’
A man helps himself to a breakfast meal during the opening of Crisis’ Christmas services in central London, as the charity sees unprecedented demand to support people rough sleeping
‘I’m going to be serving some food, and just interacting I think more than anything, just socialising with people and giving them a chance to talk.
‘This is a great campaign that people are actually getting a chance to sleep here in this hotel for two weeks, and a warm bed, shower, food, and it’s just wonderful to see how much it’s going to have an impact on them.’
As well as Ellie and fitness legend Joe – Bridgerton actor Sam Phillips was also part of the brilliant team who helped out to provide Crisis’ Christmas services.
Sam, 40, told PA: ‘I just feel very passionately that homelessness is a crisis in this country, and more should be done.
‘Thankfully, the government is doing more now with social housing, but I think ultimately we’d like to see homelessness eradicated from the country.
‘I just feel very passionately that no one should have to be on the streets, and it’s only with organisations like Crisis that we can change that for people.’
Crisis expects to receive double the amount of referrals than it has space for in its accommodation during the festive period.
Crisis has taken over three hotels in the capital, which will see more than 570 people offered their own room, companionship and access to Crisis services to help them build a life beyond homelessness.
Support will include hot meals, health and wellbeing services such as GPs, opticians and hairdressers, and specialist advice on benefits and housing.
The charity says homelessness has risen by 42% this year, with 4,780 people seen sleeping rough on London streets from July to September this year, an increase of almost a fifth (18%) on the previous year.
