LIKE your readers I’m counting down the days until Christmas and am really looking forward to spending some time at home with family and friends.

Home is so important at this time of year, which is why it shocked me to learn that every two minutes someone in Britain faces the nightmare of losing their home.

In Southampton alone, 136 homeless households will be spending this Christmas in temporary accommodation without the safety and security of a home to call their own. Many more families will be waking up on Christmas Day in housing that is damp, overcrowded or in disrepair.

This year, we can all do something to help by making sure that people in housing need can access advice and support.

By treating ourselves, friends or colleagues to lunch from Marks & Spencer’s Food on the Move range, we’ll be supporting the housing and homelessness charity Shelter’s free helpline to reach 11,000 people this Christmas.

So while you’re enjoying the festivities this year, please spare a thought for those who don’t have somewhere safe and secure to live and support this special partnership.

Thank you, Melanie C, on behalf of Shelter