For those of us who have just had a happy festive season surrounded by family and friends, it is difficult to imagine what it must be like for those who spent it alone or without even the essentials of daily life.

For the reality is that in Huddersfield, many whose lives are in crisis will have found recent weeks not special, but especially difficult.

The Welcome Centre is a Huddersfield-based charity which runs a food bank and much more.

It supports people who have run into difficulties in their lives. And it supports them not just at this time of year but all year round.

The Welcome Centre, which is based in Lord Street, offers practical support including food, toiletries, bedding, household items and warm clothes to individuals and to families.

The people they help may be facing the loss of their job, debt, eviction and homelessness. Some may be fleeing domestic violence.

The Welcome Centre opens its doors to all those in need. But to do so it has to raise funds and that’s where its supporters can help.

Richard Hey, a trustee of the centre, has used his contacts in the town’s amateur music circles to stage a fund-raising concert for the charity.

“Unfortunately, an increasing number of people are finding themselves in crisis,” he said.

“The Welcome Centre is there to help them through with emergency food, warm clothing and other basic essentials.

“The concert is just one way of raising much needed funds and we invite people to join us in a wonderful evening of music and fun and at the same time to support those in the Huddersfield area who find themselves in genuine need.”

That concert, Songs From The Shows, will be staged at St John’s Church in Lepton on Saturday, February 1, at 7.15pm.

It promises to be a night full of great songs sung by some of the town’s best known musical names because the company up there on stage will be Cath Stevenson’s Miscellany Cabaret Group.

Miscellany’s performance, accompanied by the Miscellany Band, will include songs from well-known musicals such as Crazy for You, Barnum, Cabaret and My Fair Lady.

The singers will also be dipping into the witty world of Gilbert and Sullivan. And as a result of musical director Cath’s search for interesting new material, two singers will present songs from a less well-known musical called The Baker's Wife.

Two new performers have recently joined the Miscellany family. They are soprano Maggie Lowe who recently stepped in at very short notice to play a leading role in Ruddigore with Meltham Gilbert and Sullivan Society and baritone Tony Dolan from Meltham who also sings with the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir.

One of Miscellany's founder members, soprano Julia Garbutt will be joined by Martin Stead who is well known in musical circles for his excellent acting and singing talents.

Together they will set spines tingling with songs from The Phantom of the Opera.

The famed Miscellany Showtime Singalong will get the audience into the world of musicals with songs from The Sound of Music and who will be able to resist joining in the popular You'll Never Walk Alone from the musical, Carousel.

A great musical night in store then and a way of helping some of the people in our community who are finding things difficult.

Any one of us whose circumstances change unexpectedly could find ourselves in crisis so this seems a good moment for us to reflect on how much more difficult life is for many people.

“There’s no doubt that the changes in benefits have pushed more people into difficult situations,” said Richard.

“That’s played quite a part in increasing the numbers of people who have been coming to us at the Welcome Centre.

“A typical situation is where you get a couple on relatively low incomes and one loses their job.

“ Suddenly they are down to one low income and they simply can’t make ends meet. They are pushed into a crisis situation.

“They need short term help to sort out the way forward. That’s where the Welcome Centre comes in. It’s a real life-saver in that crisis period,” he said.

Be part of a great night out with a good cause at its heart. Tickets on 01484 306637, from the Welcome Centre or on 01484 522879.