In 2025, our Peer Advisory Group had plenty of amazing ideas to help bring the community together and raise awareness of Streetlife. This year, they decided to put on their own Christmas Market. 

What is the Peer Advisory Group? 

This group meets every Friday morning and comprises many talented and creative individuals. These individuals have come to Streetlife for support after experiencing homelessness and/or other multiple disadvantages, needing some extra support. 

Our peer advisory group has been responsible for our incredible Blackpool in Bloom win, which we are all very proud of. Since winning, the team have been working on their own vegetable and fruit growing, which is used in cooking at the centre. 

The Christmas Market planning 

During a Friday morning meeting, one of our young people suggested that we host our own Christmas market, so we went with it! 

We worked together, sharing ideas and discussing what kinds of items we would like to sell and how we would share information about the market. 

When sharing ideas, our young people had the responsibility of sticking to a budget, which has taught them some valuable skills. They have worked hard to balance costs and profit, ensuring that they could keep prices affordable and fair while making it worthwhile. 

What we’re selling 

• Handmade Christmas tree decorations – created with support from Olly from Splinter Group 
• Environmentally-friendly bird feeders 
• Hot chocolate spoons 
• Christmas cards 
• Simmering bags 
• Epsom salts to relax (with help from our team)
• And lots more – come along to find out! 

We are also running a tombola and raffle at the end of the event, so be sure to check them out. 

Additionally, we’ll have letters to Santa, where our young people will be responding, and a hot chocolate-making workshop! 

When is the Christmas market taking place? 

The Christmas Market is on 18th December, 10 am to 12 pm at The Base, 48 Buchanan Street, and the whole community is welcome to join us. It will be like a real-life Santa’s workshop!

How your support helps us 

By participating in this event, you can help bring joy to our young people and help them feel independent and part of a community. 

With the money raised from the Christmas market, our young people are planning a day trip out of the centre. Some ideas include a cinema trip, spa day or other day out. 

We’re looking forward to hosting this event and are proud of our young people for their hard work and dedication. 

Our young people love the heart of community, and this is what we want to bring more of to Blackpool. Next year, we have spoken about doing it again, but this time for another charity if it’s successful.

This really is something to be proud of, and we look forward to welcoming the local community on the 18th December.