Christmas volunteering in London

Healthcare professionals, creative people wanting to run workshops, hairdressers, those able to check on the health of furry friends that come in with their owners, and volunteers who can provide emotional and spiritual support to guests are just some of the types of people Crisis is recruiting for this Christmas. Help in the kitchen is also needed, as are sports and wellbeing coordinators to help boost self-esteem and get guests moving. If any of the above sound good to you, sign up online.

This Islington charity funded by donations alone is open all year round. Sheila Scott and Louie Salvoni founded the shelter back in 2007 with a mission to house London’s homeless and support them no matter who they are or where they come from.

Volunteers are needed for various tasks, including cooking, cleaning and laundry, and a team is always required for overnight shifts to ensure guests are kept safe until a new team arrives at 6.30am to rustle up breakfast. Companies looking to do some group volunteering can sign up for a monthly deep clean of the kitchen and sleeping area, which doesn’t sound glamorous but is vital in ensuring that the shelter runs smoothly.

Hackney Night Shelter operates from a different venue each night of the week, with buildings across Hackney and the Bethnal Green area opening their doors to the homeless throughout the bitter winter. Providing hot meals and a warm place to sleep is key, but the shelter also offers professional and holistic support to visitors, with the goal of eradicating homelessness in the area. The shelter is always looking for new volunteers to join the team and you can fill out an application form on the website if you want to get involved.

Every Christmas Day, Jacksons Lane in north London welcomes local elderly and disabled people who would otherwise spend Christmas alone through its doors. Guests are treated to Christmas dinner, festive tipples, presents and entertainment, plus Santa’s been known to pop his head in too. The day is totally volunteer-led and they rely on donations to ensure the day is a success. Offer your time on the big day by cooking, driving guests, or providing entertainment, or give money (£20 needs to be raised per head for 80 guests) if you can’t help out in person.

Shake a bucket for St Mungo’s this Christmas and help raise funds for the charity and housing association working with people sleeping rough, in hostels and at risk of becoming homeless. There are other opportunities to support mental wellbeing, collect for the charity and other positions.

Recent research for Age UK has highlighted that nearly 1 million older people feel lonelier at Christmas than at any other time of the year. There are multiple ways to get involved, including befriending a local elderly person in your community, making time for a weekly call with an older person, manning a 24hr helpline or volunteering at national events.

Deptford’s 999 Club supports thousands of people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Volunteer to cook and serve food, help run workshops, support its Women’s Sanctuary and much more.

The Salvation Army is especially looking for charity shop volunteers over Christmas, although other volunteering roles are available.