Cllr Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care, Health and Anti-Poverty, said: "Loneliness is a lot more common than you might think - and can happen to anyone. Here in Royal Greenwich a number of our community centres are opening their doors over Christmas, including Christmas Day, to welcome in anyone who would like to celebrate in good company." 

Here's a selection of some of the community centres, local charities and places of worship opening their doors during the festive period: 

Wednesday 12 December

Clockhouse Community Centre

What: Free community meal

Where: Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Woolwich Dockyard, London SE18 5QL      

When: 4-6.30pm                         

Who for: all welcome       

Other info: Clockhouse Community Centre website 

Saturday 15 December

The Forum at Greenwich

What: Christmas fair: reindeers, gift stalls, Santa’s grotto, bouncy castle, face painting and more

Where: The Forum at Greenwich, Trafalgar Road, London SE10 9EQ          

When: 11am-3pm            

How:  drop in, no booking required            

Who for: all welcome       

Other info: The Forum at Greenwich website 

Woolwich Common Community Centre

What: Father Christmas - free present for every child; free family art workshop from 11am; second hand toy stalls

Where: Woolwich Common Community Centre, Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW          

When: 11am-5pm            

How:  free entry, but £5 jerk chicken, rice and salad meals            

Who for: all welcome       

Other info: (020) 8855 2437, Woolwich Common Community Centre website 

Chrisma Christian Centre

What: Christmas dinner

Where: Chrisma Christian Centre, Anglesea Road, London SE18 6EG   

When: 2-4pm     

Who for: homeless people and those in need

Friday 21 December

Greenwich Cruse

What: Greenwich Cruse Drop-in

Where: St Luke’s Hall, Westmount Road SE9 1XQ

When: 10am-1pm

Who for: recently bereaved

Other info: (020) 8850 0505

Sunday 23 December

Woolwich Common Community Centre

What: free Christmas dinner, haircut, clothes, toiletries

Where: Woolwich Common Community Centre, Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW          

When: 2-7pm            

Who for: homeless people, those in need      

Other info: (020) 8855 2437, Woolwich Common Community Centre website 

Monday 24 December

The Forum at Greenwich

What: free community Christmas food, soup, bread and mince pies

Where: The Forum at Greenwich, Trafalgar Road, London SE10 9EQ          

When: 10am-3pm           

How:  drop in, no booking required            

Who for: all welcome       

Other info: (020) 8853 5212, The Forum at Greenwich website 

Tuesday 25 December

Woolwich Common Community Centre

What: free Christmas dinner

Where: Woolwich Common Community Centre, Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW          

When: 1pm Christmas dinner, 3-7pm turkey stew and buffet           

Who for: those alone at Christmas       

Other info: (020) 8855 2437, Woolwich Common Community Centre website 

Trinity Centre, Plumstead

What: free community Christmas dinner

Where: Trinity Centre, 265 Burrage Road, Plumstead, London SE18 7JW           

When: 3pm           

How: booking required, contact Angela on 07932535219 or Alma on 07951061555 to book your place

Who for: lonely or homeless members of the community        

Other info: email the organisers 

Woolwich Service Users Project (WSUP)

What: free community Christmas dinner

Where: WSUP, Woolwich Central Baptist Church, Simmons Road, London SE18 6UX         

When: 11.30am-2pm           

Who for: all welcome

Other info: Woolwich Service Users Project website 

The Old Cottage Coffee Shop

What: Christmas Day lunch

Where: between Charlton House and oak trees, Charlton Park       

When: 12-4pm           

How:  drop in, no booking required            

Who for: elderly residents       

St Mark & St Margaret Church

What: Christmas Day get-together, light refreshments available

Where: Old Mill Road, Plumstead SE18 1QE

When: 12-6pm

How: Free, but donations accepted

Other info: Marcia Alexander on 07404172982, email the organisers 

Thursday 27 December

Clockhouse Community Centre

What: community cafe

Where: Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Woolwich Dockyard, London SE18 5QL      

When: 10am-2pm                         

Who for: all welcome       

Other info: Clockhouse Community Centre website 

Thursday 28 December

Clockhouse Community Centre

What: community cafe

Where: Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Woolwich Dockyard, London SE18 5QL      

When: 10am-2pm                         

Who for: all welcome       

Other info: Clockhouse Community Centre website