Voice of London

Christmas is approaching fast – a magical time of year. Christmas is the time of year where families come together to celebrate. For most people, this time of year is fun and festive filled with presents and food. However, not everyone can enjoy that luxury – here’s how you can help. 

There are many things that can help people who need it this Christmas. In London especially, there are nearly 9,000 people sleeping on the streets every year.

But it isn’t just the homeless who are vulnerable at this time of year. The elderly are also at a risk. Many elderly people lose their spouse or don’t have any family to be with at Christmas time. 

You can volunteer at many charities and organisations which help to protect and offer a lovely festive period to those in need.

Listed below are some charity and volunteers groups you can get involved in this Christmas: 

Christmas volunteering at Crisis

One of the biggest volunteering schemes across the nation takes place in Crisis’s day centres and rough sleeper centres. Crisis offers a range of different volunteering roles on Christmas Day to make someone’s festive season a bit better. There are specific roles for cooks, doctors, musicians and even just some good listeners.

Team London – Christmas Fairs / Christmas concerts

Team London is a search engine to find volunteering roles in the capital. Opportunities for potential volunteers are offered all year round, but there’s bound to be Christmas-related opportunities during the festive season. For example, fundraising at a Christmas fair or concert and Christmas bucket collections.

The London Basket Brigade 

This charity is all about family. The London Basket Brigade aims to put food on the tables of families in need this Christmas day. Volunteers are required to help make the baskets and to deliver them. 1,250 baskets are delivered on the 23rd of December. They also need volunteers to gather last-minute donations.

Rotary Club Christmas Day luncheon 

This charity is for over 65s living in Wandsworth. The Rotary Club hosts a huge Christmas Day lunch and tea party. Roughly 450 elderly people in the community attend, who would otherwise be on their own on Christmas. 

Volunteers are needed on the 24th, 25th and 26th of December. You can do all three days or just one. The roles include transporting guests, cleaning up, serving food and preparing the venue.

Night shelters

There are hundreds of night shelters in London. They all need volunteers throughout the year but especially in the winter when the demand is high. The aim of these shelters is to give people a warm place to stay for the night. 

So, who are the people willing to give up their Christmas? 

These volunteer opportunities are seen as vital to these charities and organisations but who are the people getting involved? And why?

Emily Patrick, a post-graduate student from Nottingham University is a young person who has decided to help the less fortunate this Christmas. 

Words: Jessica Pennell 

Photo: Unsplash

Sources:

Instagram

Londonist

Charity Websites

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