Kindness at Christmas

Christmas is traditionally a time of giving, but if finances are tight, perhaps the gift of time is what you might consider this year.

Here’s a 3 minute video from Points of Light, a government service that recognises volunteers for their service every day – it highlights how volunteering changes lives.

Volunteering opportunities

Many charities are looking for volunteers, especially during the festive season. Here are just a few of them to consider, both for now and throughout the year.

Crisis at Christmas – Every Christmas, Crisis opens its doors to thousands of people facing homelessness. They offer warmth, a safe place to stay and specialist support during one of the toughest times of the year.

This would not have been possible without over 3,660 volunteers who offered their time and expertise to deliver vital services and companionship to people when they needed it the most.

The Salvation Army – Volunteering with The Salvation Army helps make a difference to the lives of some of the most marginalised and underprivileged people.

They have a range of volunteering opportunities including volunteers for their Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery (ATMS) team, staffing charity shops, befriender roles and wellbeing and activities assistants.

The Big Issue – With the colder months upon us, a lot of people decide they want to give back to their communities. One of the easiest ways to help during winter is volunteering at a soup kitchen.

These kitchens don’t just give out hot meals to those in need, but they also guarantee a warm space and, for some, essential social interaction. If you’re interested in volunteering over Christmas but aren’t quite sure how it all works, the guide from The Big Issue will give you a clear understanding of what to expect and how to get involved.

St Mungos – Volunteers are an integral part of St Mungo’s. From supporting outreach teams with StreetLink referrals, to teaching art classes, their volunteers are vital in helping people in their recovery from homelessness.

Help for Heroes – Giving your time as a volunteer enables Help for Heroes to provide services to help veterans and their families to live independently and face their future with confidence.

NHS Volunteering – Become an NHS volunteer and discover how you can make an impact on the experience of patients, their families and the NHS.

To find out more about volunteering in the UK, find opportunties on the Government’s volunteering page.