'Everyone deserves a place at Christmas'

Adopted at birth and having spent years in the care system, Cal Phoenix knows too well how isolating Christmas can be.

But that never stopped him loving the festive season.

To the 23-year-old, who lives in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, "Christmas is about family" - something he says he did not have for a long time.

That is why this year, he has decided to bring people who might be facing isolation and other struggles together.

After Mr Phoenix moved to Nottingham last October, he became involved with Sherwood community hub The Place Activity Centre, which hosts the Sherwood Exchange, a food, clothing and toys swap.

On Saturday he held a Christmas event at the centre to support the local community and raise funds for the centre.

"Christmas time is hard for a lot of people and it'll also be very quiet for some people.

"I realise just how isolating it can be," he said.

Mr Phoenix, who was born in Hampshire, said he was adopted at birth and went into foster care when he turned 16.

Despite many challenges, he said he did make some special memories at Christmas as a child.

"There was a moment during my life when I was in a children's home and it was a nice little Christmas," he said.

"But it kind of reminded me that Christmas was a nice time where families come together.

"I would see it on TV in films and things like that - that was how Christmas should be. It still crosses my mind."

Mr Phoenix - who now runs his own gardening business - first came to Nottingham aged 17, when he was moved into a children's home but said he returned to Hampshire when he turned 18.

While finding his feet as an adult, he said he "ended up in the wrong crowd" on a number of occasions and after a difficult year in 2022, eventually moved back to the city last year.

"Nottingham is the place that feels most like home to me," he said.

His warm welcome in Nottingham was one of the reasons Mr Phoenix decided he wanted to "give back".

"The Sherwood Exchange and The Place just welcomed me in," he said.

On Saturday The Place Activity Centre opened its doors to anyone who might be struggling during the festive period.

Members of the local community were invited to socialise, take part in a raffle and other activities, and pick up food, gifts and other items.

Mr Phoenix and members of the Sherwood Exchange managed to get donations from a number of supermarkets and other businesses for the swap.

The Sherwood Exchange thanked everyone involved for making the "enjoyable" event a success.

"People might be struggling financially, they might be lonely, they might have lost someone - you never know what someone's going through," Mr Phoenix said.

"But everyone deserves a place at Christmas."

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