Gingerbread Street
Join us on Gingerbread Street
The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle upon Tyne
Closing date for entries: 19 November 2025
Judging event: 2 December 2025
Public exhibition: 3 December 2025 – 4 January 2026
Help us to build the community that ensures everyone feels like they have a place to belong.
This Christmas, we are inviting local businesses to use their skills and innovation to construct a gingerbread building that will become part of ‘Gingerbread Street’ kindly sponsored by Lovell.
This exciting event, part of our Giving a Home Christmas Appeal, will see all of the biscuity buildings placed together to form Gingerbread Street. An enchanting exhibition that go on display for families to visit this festive season at The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Get involved
Solving homelessness is more than just providing a roof overhead. It’s about helping people to find a community, a safe place where they can belong and build a brighter future. That’s what Gingerbread Street is all about.
To take part in the competition, purchase your plot of land upon which your gingerbread building will be displayed, choose from three sizes:
| Plot | Dimensions | Entry Fee* |
| Large | 50 x 50 cm | £1,000 |
| Medium | 50 x 25 cm | £750 |
| Small | 25 x 25 cm | £500 |
Closing date for entries is 5pm on Wednesday 19 November.
Entry includes a pre-cut base board, kindly supplied by Howell Cummings Joinery. Plus tickets for your team to attend our exclusive judging event taking place on Tuesday 2 December at The Biscuit Factory.
*Double your donation
We are taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge meaning all donations made between 2 and 9 December will be doubled, giving twice the impact. So that we can double your donation, your entry fee payment must be made either by card or by BACS via our Big Give donation page.
Download the competition brief and rules
All proceeds will go towards Oasis Community Housing’s Giving a Home Appeal, supporting men, women and young families out of homelessness at Christmas and throughout the year.
Happy building!
Introducing our Judges
Roisin Currie
Greggs Chief Executive.
Roisin spent 20 years in various roles and locations across the UK, before joining Greggs in 2010 as Group People Director. She was appointed to Chief Executive in May 2022.
Roisin was instrumental in Greggs’ ‘Fresh Start’ employability programme, helping to encourage and support people leaving prison into paid employment within Greggs.
She holds a number of other trustee and chair positions, and an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law by Northumbria University.
Phil Jones
Director of Land & Partnerships at Lovell.
Having graduated in town planning, Phil has a deep and broad 25-year professional career having worked in both public and private sector. At Lovell, Phil leads on land acquisition and planning for development projects, and JV and partnership proposals – all underpinned with the primary objective of great placemaking.
Grace Choi
Director, architect and RIBA NE Council Co-Chair.
Over the last 25 years, Grace has worked across the UK, at renowned architectural practices, leading award winning projects.
Grace is currently director of Grace Choi Architecture, a value-led design orientated practice, focussing on communities and homes in the NE. Alongside practice Grace acts as RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) NE co-chair, and sits on various panels and advisory boards in the sector.
She has been influential in her efforts to demystify issues of Inclusion to the architectural community, by founding the J.E.D.I. talks and recently co-edited a book entitled Inclusion Emergency: Diversity in Architecture, by RIBA Publishing in June 2024.
She is a regular visiting reviewer at UK schools of architecture, speaker, mentor and writer.
Steph McGovern
Broadcaster.
An award winning broadcaster, Steph presented over 250 episodes of the eponymous ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’ which was broadcast daily on Channel 4 from 2020-2023.
Prior to this, Steph worked in financial journalism for over 15 years and spent 8 years as part of the BBC Breakfast family.
Originally from Middlesbrough, Steph’s first taste of BBC life came aged 19, when she made a guest appearance on a programme about women in science. Steph had just won the title of Young Engineer for Britain, after saving Black & Decker money on a design she created for their Leaf Hog product.
Steph is also a mentor for young people in Teesside and regularly runs workshops for schoolchildren around the North East.
Sponsorship opportunities
Sponsoring Gingerbread Street is a great way to promote your company and demonstrates how your business, in partnership with Oasis Community Housing, is bringing hope to more people affected by homelessness.
Download our sponsorship opportunities.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor please contact our Corporate Partnerships Manager, Sophie Barker on 07736994331 or sophie.barker@oasiscommunityhousing.org.
