National homelessness charity Crisis is calling for brave volunteers to dive into the icy waters of the country’s largest fresh water lido, as part of the opening ceremony for the UK Cold Water Swimming Championships.

The event is one of two polar plunges where you can raise money to help end homelessness at the Crisis Midwinter Swim series.

Choose from a solo splash or a team relay at Brockwell Park in December, or BE BOLD in the Cold this January at Tooting Bec Lido – in partnership with the UK Cold Water Swimming Championships for the first time.

Dive in at Brockwell Lido and you will be reserving a place at Crisis at Christmas for someone who is homeless. For just £22.32 they’ll get much more than just a hot dinner.

Each place you reserve will also give someone an introduction to Crisis’ year-round health and well-being, education, employment and housing services, for training and support in the year ahead.

Recently, the bitter economic climate, combined with cuts to services and support, has taken a huge toll on people at the edge of homelessness.

The number of people sleeping on the streets in England has doubled since 2010 and risen by 30 per cent in the last year. Across the UK, thousands of people are sleeping rough.

Crisis offers year-round services to help people take their first steps out of homelessness. They now operate in 11 centres across the UK. For the past year they have been offering services in Croydon and surrounding south London. Your support means that they can help another person take the next vital step on their journey out of homelessness and face the New Year with hope.

If you can’t make the December dip, or just fancy a second dose of freezing water, join in at Tooting Bec Lido where the Midwinter Swim will be part of the opening ceremony at the Cold Water Swimming Championships, where your £15 registration fee could provide a homeless person with a 45 minute consultation with a housing expert where they will get advice and support to find a suitable place to live.

For full event information and safety information, visit www.crisis.org.uk/swim

The CrisisMidwinter Swim series:

December 2016 – January 2017

Brockwell Lido, Saturday 10 December 2016 at midday, registration fee £22.32

Tooting Bec Lido, Saturday 28 January 2017 at 9am, registration fee £15