For many without homes in Kent, it must be hard to feel festive while living on the streets this Christmas.

But the Ashford charity, Unleashing Lives, is trying to change this by giving out vital supplies to the town's homeless, all neatly wrapped up in a shoe box.

Matthew Bridger speaking about the festive shoe boxes

Charity chairman, Matthew Bridger said: "During the Christmas period, the homeless are watching everyone walk past with gifts for family and friends.

"So it's all about giving to those people who haven't got a home, who sit on the streets, who may be in the homeless shelters over the winter periods, who haven't got anything.

"It's about giving them a present but also essential items to keep them going through the winter period. It's great to see that their faces light up."

Porchlight, another charity that works with the homeless in Kent, estimates that 9,300 households are at risk of becoming homeless in the coming months.

The shoe boxes are donated to the charity by the public who fill them with essential such as toiletries, or woolly hats and scarves.

They're then handed into one of the many drop off points around the town.

Businesses like Bare Bazaar, run by Kati Ramsden, are hoping to make a change by being drop off points for the shoe box appeal.

She said: "I see more and more people on the street, waiting for a break, basically waiting for enough money for a room for the night and it is really heartbreaking."

Kati was approached by the charity directly, and, like a number of other businesses around Ashford, agreed to help out with the scheme.

But, despite support from local businesses, Unleashing Lives relies on the generosity of the public.

Matthew continued: "If you want to get involved please do.

"We are a local charity and we're not one of those big national charities. We are small."

To find out more about Unleashing Lives click here.