Get into the festive spirit with these volunteering opportunities over the winter break. Volunteering may look a little different this year but these charities still need support, spend a little time writing a letter or helping at a food bank, or take your volunteering into the new year!
Consider your roast potatoes the best around? Is Christmas dinner your domain? St. John the Evangelist Church Soup Kitchen are looking for cooks, vegetable preppers and washer uppers! You don’t have to be Nigella Lawson to volunteer though - take orders, chat to guests or help organise the food bank instead.
Usually FoodCycle kitchens at this time of the year would be filled with hungry guests. Whilst they cook up festive treats from afar, many guests are missing socialising - help out as a Check in and Chat volunteer on a casual basis and brighten up a someones day.
We are in search of Christmas Evles! Coin Street are spreading joy by delivering festive hampers and need your help in packing and delivering in true Santa Workshop style. If you have time to volunteer between 21 - 23 December Age UK Westminster are delivering hampers to their most vulnerable older residents, sign up as a Christmas Hamper Delivery Volunteer.
There is no better time to start a befriending volunteering role – with isolation and loneliness increasing over the winter period befriending is a great way to make new connections and lighten up someone’s week.
Become a Volunteer Buddy with Sense and be partnered with a young person to go out into the community to do fun things together. Bowling, ice skating, a hot chocolate in the park or a catch up over Zoom… whatever it is you and your young person want to do!
Try your hand at hosting a festive quiz or game of bingo as Virtual Befriender with Leonard Cheshire, as a volunteer you will help care home residents to remain connected and combat isolation.
If you enjoy chatting on the phone these roles are for you. Provide companionship and company with an older person with Age UK Camden. You don't have to be local to volunteer with Manor Gardens Welfare Trust, If you are in London this winter break you will could be chatting to neighbours! If you'd like to help an isolated person feel less lonely over the winter period Octavia Foundation are looking for telephone befrienders. All our charity partners provide full training and support before you begin volunteering.
Santa not writing you back these days? Letters for the NHS connects letter writing volunteers with key workers at the NHS who may need a little support right now. If you want to share kind words with isolated care home residents, Letter to Care Homes allows you to submit letters through their website and provide comfort to an older person during a difficult time.
If you are wondering how to spend your time over the winter break, or thinking about starting your volunteering for the first time, there is no better time than now to make a positive impact on local communities and individuals in need. Check out all of our volunteering opportunities on our directory and sign up to our volunteering newsletter to be the first to hear of new roles and events.
And don’t forget – volunteering isn’t just for the festive season, so keep browsing opportunities on our directory and let us know how you are finding volunteering by dropping us an email.