Normally they would be getting ready to welcome around 100 men and women on Christmas Day, many who otherwise would be completely alone.

But like everyone else, those plans are cancelled and instead the Lodging House Mission, known by the many people who use it as ‘Trotters’, has found other ways to ensure it still supports those who use its services.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the charity to adapt to a new way of working.

The people it supports have been denied the company of the staff and volunteers, immediate face-to-face support and access to the centre in the east end, near the Barras.

The Winter Night Shelter, hosted by Lodging House Mission and run by Glasgow City Mission, has not been open this year, with instead people accommodated in a hotel.

But the lockdown has not meant a shutdown for the charity, which has been supporting people in the city for more than 100 years.

Instead, the team has altered how it operates and has continued that to ensure it is still helping out in a meaningful way over Christmas.

Stephen Mitchell, Manager at Lodging House Mission, said it has been a year of big change.

He said: “We are operating but differently. Before Covid we were seeing around 100 people a day for breakfast and lunches, showers and emergency clothing and help with their underlying issues.

“Of course , we can’t have 100 people inside so we have had to adapt. We still have a lot of resources that we can give out in practical ways.

“We are working with the frontline services who are still operating and are providing take-away food at the door.”

He said the Lodging House Mission is still providing the essential link into other services.

By offering the practical day to day help people need to meet their basic needs they are able to talk to people and point them in the right direction for help with other long term complex issues.

Mr Mitchell, said: “The practical support is just the start. That opens up the support for people.

“What is lacking just now is a place for them to be and to feel human and social.”

What the Lodging House Mission has been able to provide this year is still a lifeline for so many.

And over Christmas and New Year, while the centre is closed, the team will still be doing what it can to look out for people in need.

They are producing and delivering Christmas dinners and gift bags on Christmas Day.

While they are unable to have larger gatherings the centre is still open Monday to Friday and staff available for pre-arranged one to one support.

Food parcels, ‘kettle food’ packs and toiletries packs are ready and available for collection by prior arrangement.

Emergency assistance with clothing is available by prior arrangement and the chaplaincy helpline is open on 07864 705 668.

The night shelter, which normally operated between December and March is closed and instead has been replaced with an Overnight Welcome Centre in a hotel in the city centre. The Lodging House Mission is still providing support and assistance via delivering food and toiletries packs to the hotel.

Mr Mitchell said: “People still need the place to be here. The impact on people’s mental health is hard to quantify.”

And the team are still making life better for people .

Angela Vance, Support worker, said they knew of someone about to turn 40 so the staff sent a card to the hotel he was in.

She said: “He came by later to say thanks and said ‘Only Trotters can make me this happy’.”