IS THIS the first mention of Christmas this year? Emtana Hussain, in Year 4 at Bankside Primary School, Leeds, has just won a competition, open to schools in Ripon & Leeds diocese and beyond, to design an angel image for the 2012 Christmas card for St George's Crypt Appeal.

The appeal will urge people to "Be an angel this Christmas", and the winning card, together with the 23 runners-up, will be on sale in the crypt, and charity shops, from mid-October. Funds from the appeal go towards the care that the crypt has been providing for homeless and vulnerable people since 1930.

More than 100 people a day are fed, and given hope and support - and, some, a bed for the night - in the newly refurbished church crypt. Previously, until the founder, the Revd Don Robins, had his vision for it, it was dilapidated, and full of coffins. The fund-raising is continual, and recently included an abseil from the 11th floor of one of the office blocks in the city.

Emtana, seen here with the deputy head of Bankside School, Chris Florey, received £100 in book vouchers, split equally between herself and the school. She was looking forward to shopping for books during the summer holidays.