CHRISTMAS has never tasted so good for a group that helps Worcester people whose lives are in crisis.

The Help Day Centre, which is open to alcoholics, drug users, the homeless and mentally ill, was given £350 from the Make A Difference money pot to put towards warm winter clothing and a special Christmas meal.

The meal was held at the centre in St Paul's Church, St Paul's Street, and manager Joyce Brown said that the extra cash helped her and 11 other volunteers to lay on a lavish lunch for its members.

"They had turkey, roast potatoes, boiled potatoes, sprouts, parsnips, vegetables, pigs in blanket, stuffing, Christmas pudding - the full works," she said.

Everybody who went to the Christmas meal also received a gift package filled with tinned and packaged food.

The 60-year-old said that although the centre provides a valuable service for its users, especially during the cold months, she was surprised to receive funding from the campaign which is a joint venture between the Worcester Round Table and the Worcester News.

She said: "We don't often get things but this is absolutely brilliant. It's just perfect timing. Because of who we are and what we are we do tend to get overlooked but we actually do all of this because we want to do it."

She said the money would also go some way to helping secure the immediate future of the centre, which has been running since 1991 to encourage better living skills as well as helping those with reading and writing difficulties.

The centre also serves hot drinks and cooked meals three mornings and two evenings every week.

If you want to apply for money from the Make A Difference campaign, tell us why your organisation deserves a donation, how much you would like, and what the money will be spent on. Successful applicants will be notified in writing.