Joe Wicks joined Ellie Goulding 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 as they helped provide hot drinks and food, plus plenty of other activities.
Celebrities were part of the opening day holiday in central London, as the homeless charity was overwhelmed by unprecedented demand to support people in hardship.
Burn hitmaker Ellie revealed she was “blown away” by the experience and said her duties also included playing games and welcoming guests.
Speaking at a launch event for Crisis’ Christmas support services, she told the PA: ‘I am so amazed by Crisis and the volunteers I meet every time I come here. They’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve supported them for a long time.
‘I have always been concerned about homelessness since I was very, very young. It was something that always affected me a lot.
Ellie Goulding (pictured), 37, was accompanied by Joe Wicks, 39, as the duo helped with Crisis Christmas services in a bid to tackle rough sleeping in London.
The singer and fitness guru (pictured) rolled up their sleeves as they helped provide hot drinks and food, plus plenty of other activities.
“If I saw people sleeping rough, it really triggered me and affected me, and that’s why I always said to myself, if I was ever in a position where I could help, support and get involved, then I would do it, and that’s why that” I have dedicated myself to it.
And it’s not that the situation is improving: the number of homeless people continues to increase. This Christmas, there are more than 300,000 people homeless and without a suitable home.
‘That’s why we need more people to get involved in Crisis, and not just at Christmas but all year round. We need more volunteers, more people to participate and simply 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 it takes of me.”
“I come every year and I have only been serving tea and coffee, and later I will do other things, various things.
‘Everyone is working so hard, there are lots of amazing volunteers here, lots of friendly faces. It is a very warm, welcoming and safe environment, and it is always a pleasure to be here.”
Meanwhile, Joe, who was volunteering at the charity for the first time, said: “In this day and age, we shouldn’t have people sleeping rough on the streets.” It’s very cold and we have to take care of people.
‘I think naturally as an empath I care about people and we’ve been raising money for Crisis as a company, The Body Coach, this month. So they invited me to volunteer.
‘I have always been concerned about homelessness since I was very, very young. It was something that always affected me a lot,” Ellie told PA at the event.
‘Nowadays, we shouldn’t have people sleeping rough on the streets. “It’s very cold, you have to take care of people,” Joe said.
“I come every year and I only serve tea and coffee, and then I will do other things, various things,” added the physical trainer.
Bridgerton star Sam Phillips also joined the team, saying: “I feel very passionately that no one should be on the streets, and only with organizations like Crisis can we change that for people.”
A man helps himself to a breakfast during the opening of Crisis’s Christmas services in central London, as the charity sees unprecedented demand to help rough sleepers.
‘I’m going to serve some food and, I think more than anything, I’ll just interact, just socialize with people and give them a chance to talk.
“This is a great campaign to give people the opportunity to sleep here in this hotel for two weeks, and a warm bed, a shower and food, and it’s just wonderful to see how much of an impact it will have on them.”
As well as Ellie and fitness legend Joe, Bridgerton actor Sam Phillips was also part of the brilliant team that helped deliver Crisis’ Christmas services.
Sam, 40, told PA: “I feel very passionately that homelessness is a crisis in this country and that more needs to be done.”
‘Thankfully the government is doing more now with social housing, but I think ultimately we would like to eradicate homelessness in the country.
“I feel very passionately that no one should be on the streets, and only with organizations like Crisis can we change that for people.”
Crisis expects to receive twice as many referrals as it has space for in its accommodation over the festive period.
Crisis has taken over three hotels in the capital, where more than 570 people will be offered their own room, company 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 the number of homeless people has increased by 42% this year, with 4,780 people sleeping rough on the streets of London from July to September this year, an increase of almost a fifth (18%) compared to the previous year.