A COMMUNITY outreach service in Ayr is offering a free Christmas lunch to those in need.

The Care & Share team of Riverside Community Trust will be hosting the event at Riverside Church on John Street on Christmas Day.

The festive meal will be served from 12pm to 1.30pm.

(Image: Riverside Community Trust) Staff and volunteers will serve a traditional Christmas dinner, complete with soup, turkey and trimmings, and trifle.

The Care & Share initiative, a partnership between Riverside Church and NHS Ayrshire & Arran, has been supporting people in South Ayrshire since 2008.

(Image: Riverside Community Trust) It provides a lifeline for individuals experiencing homelessness or recovering from difficult circumstances.

The initiative offers a weekly drop-in meal on Wednesdays, a breakfast club on Tuesdays, and access to essential services.

(Image: Riverside Community Trust) This Christmas, the team aims to provide not just a meal, but a sense of community, comfort, and holiday spirit.

Bruce Bunten, coordinator at Riverside Community Trust, said: "Many of us will be fortunate to have families and friends with whom to spend Christmas.

(Image: Riverside Community Trust) "We’ll probably also have the luxury of a warm home and a Christmas dinner to look forward to.

"There will be others, particularly those who attend Care & Share, who will find Christmas especially difficult this year.

(Image: Riverside Community Trust) "They may be on their own and won't have a warm fire to gather around, presents to open or turkey to look forward to.

"They may also have to spend Christmas in cold and damp conditions and may have to choose between heating and eating.

"If we can give a few hours of our time to make Christmas even slightly more bearable and bring some Christmas cheer to even just one person, it will be the best gift we’ll have given this Christmas."

(Image: Riverside Community Trust) Care & Share was recognised for its work with a COSLA Gold Award for helping vulnerable people in innovative ways.

The team will also be available to discuss the services they offer, from housing support to recovery programmes, providing help that extends beyond the festive period.

The team encourages anyone who might need a warm meal and some festive cheer to join them on Christmas Day.

For those who would like to help, they can be contacted at 01292 262686, or more information can be found at riversidecommunitytrust.org.uk.