The west London branch of Samaritans has geared up for a busy festive season with special Christmas cards, carol singing at Ealing Broadway station on 19 December and stunning windows displays in 'the best street in the world.'

David Arch, co-director of the Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Samaritans branch said: "All of this activity is to support the service being offered 365 days a year by our 120 volunteers. 

"Winter can be a hard time for many and this year could be especially so, as households brace themselves for higher bills. A call to 116 123 means that there is no need to struggle alone."

Christmas cards in aid of branch funds are being sold in the Ealing Charity Christmas Card Shop at the Church of Christ the Saviour, New Broadway, Ealing, London, W5 2XA.

And windows in Castle Road, Isleworth aren't just being decorated this Christmas - they're raising funds for Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Samaritans.

Residents of the charity-minded neighbourhood are in their third year of celebrating Christmas with front-window advent calendars lighting up the street.

Every day, from the 1 to 24 December, one of the houses unveils its advent day number.

Castle Road advent windows (credit: Ealing, Hammersmith & Hounslow Samaritans).

One of residents of Castle Road is a volunteer with Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Samaritans.

She explained: "We first had the idea during one of our street parties, chatting about how we could come together both in the winter as well as the summer and the Castle Road Advent Calendar was born.

"We have raised over £3,200 in the past two years, for a London homelessness charity and for a local food bank in Hounslow. This year we decided to support our local Samaritans branch." 

She added: "I've lived in Castle Road for 20 years and it's the best street in the world!"

Volunteers from the South Ealing-based Samaritans branch will join over 200 other Samaritans branches across the UK and Ireland who'll be on duty around the clock over the festive season to answer calls for help from people feeling overwhelmed this winter.  

An accompanying poster campaign encourages visitors to Castle Road to make a donation to https://www.justgiving.com/page/castleroad-adventwindows.

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