"Coming here gives me faith in the human race," says George, taking a sip of coffee.
He is sat in the dining area of the New Victoria construction site, less than a minute's walk away from Manchester Victoria.
Surrounding George (not his real name) are tables of food, refreshments, bundles of warm clothing and essential supplies.
READ MORE: The homeless people on the streets of Manchester on Christmas Day
The atmosphere is warm and festive, with Christmas music blaring, balloons hanging and festive lights twinkling.
Staff members and volunteers are scurrying around, welcoming visitors, serving food and drinks and spreading festive cheer.
This is the Christmas Project, set up by Manchester's oldest homelessness charity, Lifeshare.
Launched on Thursday (December 34), the project is a week-long pop up service in the New Victoria construction site on Corporation Street.
The Christmas Project offers hot meals, showers, haircuts, spare clothes, advice, medical care, support, veterinary care and assistance to get people living on the streets over the festive season.
Those who are homeless - or in crisis - can receive support right through until December 29.
George has been using Lifeshare's drop-in services for some time.
He has epilepsy, anxiety and depression.
Using Lifeshare's services helps him cope with feelings of isolation.
"I have known the Lifeshare staff for quite a bit," he tells the Manchester Evening News .
"When I didn't see them fo r ages, I was basically getting more and more depressed.
"So I was just sitting at home. It was just getting on top of me.
"When I sit outside, people walk past me and look at me as if I've been taking drugs.
"They don’t understand. They don’t really know what's going on.
"When I say that I suffer with epilepsy, they look at me as if to say 'yeah right... you're on drugs'.
"It’s not a nice thing.
"But being here gives me faith in the human race."
The festive season is usually lonely for George.
"Last year, on Christmas Day, I was on my own," he says.
"My epilepsy is so bad, I can’t have a cooker in my flat.
"So I have to go around soup kitchens just to be able to eat.
"I have a microwave, but you can’t live off microwave meals because you don't get the vitamins you need.
"Most of my money goes on bills, so I am not able to buy new clothes that often.
"So being able to come here and get a few new pairs of joggers or something, it’s actually pretty good."
The pandemic has been rough on George, whose epilepsy is stress-related.
He added: "Covid has been hard, because I've got to make sure I don’t end up getting stressed.
"The majority of the time, I do get stressed, which causes me to have more fits.
"I have got to be very careful."
The Christmas Project has put George in great spirits.
"It's rare I get a chance to smile. I tend to sit at home. It's not the greatest thing to do.
"I feel uplifted when I come here.
"It's good to see that someone actually does care."
Jess (not her real name), who has experienced homelessness herself.
Having been supported by Lifeshare, she is full of praise.
"I honestly don’t know what I’d do without Lifeshare," she beams.
"The manager, Judy, has helped me through everything.
"For all the homeless people to be out there in this cold weather, it’s freezing.
"I just want them all to get in accommodation where it’s warm. I don’t want them to homeless at Christmas.
"I have been homeless myself and it’s not nice.
"It’s really, really horrible.
"For Lifeshare to do something like this at Christmas, they should be so proud."
Over a decade ago, Tom (not his real name) was a homeless teenager who wandered the streets of Manchester.
Lifeshare supported him into temporary accommodation.
For many years now, he has been clean from drugs, which he attributes to the charity's support.
He explained: " Being a teenager, coming onto the streets of Manchester, I was on drugs.
"Lifeshare took me under their wing.
"I haven't touched drugs since I came across Lifeshare. The work they do has kept me clean.
"I don’t think I would be here today without their support.
" Without Lifeshare in Manchester, I think Manchester would go downhill.
"People would turn to shoplifting and committing crimes so they could feed themselves."
Tom said he would go 'mad' if he didn't have Lifeshare over Christmas.
He added: "Christmas on your own is the worst feeling.
"I would probably end up doing drugs or drinking all day.
"But I don'y need to do that because I can come to a place like this and feel safe and be myself and have a good conversation with staff."
Judith Vickers, operations manager for Lifeshare, said: "If you think about how many construction sites across the world are closed for Christmas, how many homeless people are on the streets, and how many charities are fighting for space, this is the perfect solution.
"We have had the help of contractors, corporate support, the Mancunian public, churches, schools, families, caterers, everyone has pulled in to make this possible.
"Lifeshare’s Christmas is not just for rough sleepers.
"Everybody is welcome. There won't be any questions asked on the door.
"Clients have said to me 'for 51 weeks of the year, I feel invisible, and Lifeshare is the only time people smile at me, give me eye contact and ask me how I am'."
Maxine Peake, 47, is an ambassador for Lifeshare.
She told the M.E.N: " It's brilliant to see what Judith and her team have done.
"Lifeshare creates a really inclusive environment. Y oung people are respected, their needs are understood and catered for.
"People seem to think homelessness is something that will never happen to them.
"But we are all a pay check away.
"People who don’t have a home to celebrate Christmas in, will be able to join us and get some help right up to the 29th of December.
"I'd encourage anyone who might be in this situation to come down and use this service.
"We are here for you."
The partners who helped make the Christmas Project happen include: VINCI Construction UK, Muse Developments, PIC, Chroma, Walker Sime, ARUP, HAALO, and WSP.
Matt Legg, VINCI’s project manager for the New Victoria scheme, said: "Our welfare buildings normally close down over Christmas, but they include a fully fitted canteen, bathrooms, lots of space and heating.
"It's an absolute joy to help and we hope this could continue through the construction industry."
Lifeshare's Christmas Project is on between December 23 and 29 at the New Victoria Construction site on Corporation Street in Manchester, M3 1NX.
To find out more, visit https://www.lifeshare.org.uk/christmas-service/
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