REAL BRITAIN

Ros Wynne-Jones standing up for you and your family

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OFF a busy main road in South London, in one the capital's most deprived postcodes, the Christmas cheer is turned up to 11.

The tea urn is switched on, and a long table is laden with food from cheese sandwiches to a beetroot cake, to plates piled high with houmous and olives. A Christmas tree is twinkling in one corner, while a giant tropical fig has also been covered in festive lights.

The Christmas party at the Oasis St Martin's Village hub in Tulse Hill is also the start of something bigger. This is the first ever Together At Christmas community meal, one of a series of pilot events taking place over the 2025 festive season with organisers hoping it will be 1,000 meals by next Christmas.

In recent weeks, church and other faith leaders have been concerned by attempts by the far right to politicise and even “weaponise” Christmas.

“Many of us right across the UK are concerned our society is becoming increasingly divided,” says Steve Chalke MBE, a British Baptist minister and the founder of Oasis Charitable Trust. “We're troubled as we see a rising tide of fear, loneliness, blame, marginalisation, intimidation and even open hostility.”

Steve is one of a growing number of grassroots leaders, faith groups, charities and businesses behind We Are United, formed to bring communities together against a rising tide of isolation and polarisation.

“Together at Christmas is the movement's first national initiative - a warm, community-led invitation to connection, belonging and hope,” Steve explains.

“Rather than respond with debate or division, We Are United chose something older and more powerful - sharing a meal.

“It’s our hope that next Christmas, today’s meal will be replicated in over 1,000 villages, towns and cities and for Christmases to come.”