12 Dec 2025 | Updated 12 Dec 2025
The UK Government has announced a £3.5bn strategy to tackle homelessness, as new figures from Shelter reveal a 20 per cent rise in rough sleeping across England. With thousands facing freezing conditions this winter, Khalsa Aid has launched its Winter Blanket Drive to provide urgent warmth and support to those who cannot wait.
The UK Government has announced a new £3.5 billion strategy to address homelessness and rough sleeping, with a focus on long-term prevention, improved support services and reducing the number of people living without stable accommodation.
But newly released national figures show that homelessness is already rising sharply, highlighting the urgent reality many are facing this winter.
As per the latest figures from Shelter, rough sleeping in England has increased by 20 per cent in just one year, with 4,667 people sleeping on the streets on any given night. In total, more than 380,000 people are now homeless, including 175,025 children. This is an 8 per cent rise compared with the previous year.
While long-term investment and structural solutions are essential, these numbers make one thing clear:
for thousands of people, the crisis is happening right now.
At Khalsa Aid, our focus is on supporting those who cannot wait for change to unfold over months or years. As temperatures drop, people sleeping rough or without adequate shelter face immediate risks to their health and safety. The need for warmth is urgent.
This is why we have launched our Winter Blanket Drive. We are appealing for NEW blankets to support people facing freezing conditions with little or no protection. We request new blankets so we can offer everyone something clean, warm and safe during the coldest nights. A blanket may be simple, but for someone exposed to the cold, it can mean dignity, comfort and an essential measure of safety.
How You Can Help
Donate a new blanket and help someone get through the night.
DROP-OFF at SLOUGH
Big Yellow Self Storage, Farnham Rd, Slough SL1 4XP
Sun 14 Dec: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Mon 15 Dec: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Thu 18 Dec: 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
DROP-OFF at COVENTRY
Langar Aid
6 Doe Bank Ln, Upper Spon St, Coventry, CV1 3AR
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Your donation will go directly to someone facing the cold.
Warmth is urgent, please donate a NEW blanket if you can.