How to Find Volunteering Opportunities Over the Christmas Period

The Christmas season is a time for giving, and one of the most meaningful ways to give is by offering your time to help others. 

Volunteering during the festive period not only spreads joy to those in need but also brings a sense of purpose and connection to your own Christmas celebrations. 

If you’re looking to get involved this Christmas, here’s how to find volunteering opportunities in your local area and beyond.

1. Explore Local Charities and Organisations

Start by identifying local charities that are active in your community. 

Organisations that work with the homeless, food banks, care homes, or animal shelters often need extra help during the busy Christmas period. Reach out to them directly to ask about their volunteering needs and how you can assist.

Popular types of volunteering include:

Serving meals or distributing food parcels.

Wrapping and delivering gifts to families in need.

Supporting events such as Christmas fairs or carol services.

2. Use Online Volunteering Platforms

There are several online platforms designed to connect volunteers with organisations in need. Some of the most popular in the UK include:

Do-it.org: A comprehensive database of volunteering opportunities.

Volunteer Scotland or local equivalents.

CharityJob: Often lists temporary and event-based volunteer roles.

Local council websites: Many councils post volunteering opportunities for community projects.

3. Reach Out to Religious or Community Groups

Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based groups often run outreach programmes during Christmas. From hosting Christmas dinners to organising gift drives, these groups typically welcome volunteers of all backgrounds to support their charitable efforts.

4. Look for Festive Fundraising Events

Many charities host special events over Christmas, such as fun runs, markets, or carol singing. These events often need volunteers to help with setting up, managing stalls, or guiding participants. Contact the organisers directly to offer your help.

5. Join Food Banks or Soup Kitchens

Christmas is a critical time for food banks and soup kitchens, as they strive to support individuals and families facing hardship. Organisations like the Trussell Trust in the UK or your local food bank can provide information on how to volunteer. Roles might include sorting donations, packing food parcels, or serving meals.

6. Check Corporate Volunteering Programmes

If you’re employed, check whether your workplace has a volunteering programme. Many companies encourage their staff to volunteer during the holidays, offering paid time off for charitable work or organising team-based volunteering days.

7. Support the Elderly and Vulnerable

Loneliness is a significant issue for many during Christmas. Organisations like Age UK or local care homes often need volunteers to spend time with elderly residents, whether by hosting festive activities, delivering meals, or simply offering companionship.

8. Join Local Community Projects

Community projects often spring to life during the festive season, ranging from Christmas tree recycling schemes to neighbourhood clean-ups. Check local Facebook groups, noticeboards, or platforms like Nextdoor for opportunities to lend a hand.

9. Get Creative with Virtual Volunteering

If you’re unable to volunteer in person, consider virtual volunteering options. Many charities need help with online tasks like managing social media, writing newsletters, or organising virtual fundraisers. You could also join initiatives like writing Christmas cards to isolated individuals.

10. Consider One-Off Opportunities

Even if you only have a few hours to spare, many organisations offer one-off opportunities during Christmas. From wrapping gifts to helping with a single event, every little bit helps.

Tips for a Successful Volunteering Experience

Plan early: Christmas is a busy time for charities, and volunteer slots often fill up quickly.

Be flexible: Charities may need help with roles you hadn’t considered.

Bring friends or family: Volunteering together can make the experience even more rewarding.

Stay committed: If you sign up, make sure to follow through to avoid leaving organisations short-staffed.

The True Spirit of Christmas

Volunteering during the Christmas period is a wonderful way to embody the spirit of giving and gratitude. Whether you’re serving meals, wrapping gifts, or simply sharing a smile, your efforts can make a significant difference to someone’s holiday experience.

So, take the first step today. Reach out to local organisations, sign up for a cause that resonates with you, and enjoy a Christmas filled with kindness and connection.

Merry Christmas, and happy volunteering!

Trussell Trust reveals new figures on emergency food parcel needs. Learn how you can help

New figures released by the Trussell Trust showed 1.5 million emergency food parcels were provided to people between April and September 2023 by food banks in the charity’s UK-wide network. This is the most parcels the network's ever distributed at this point in the year and represents a 16% increase from the same period in 2022.

Low incomes, especially from social security, debt, health conditions and issues with social security payments such as delays or sanctions were the main reasons people were left with no option but to turn to food banks for help.

A record 540,000 food parcels were provided for over 265,000 children living in families who couldn't afford the essentials. That's an 11% increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the continuing rise in need for the support provided by food banks.

The new data also revealed 65% of all the parcels provided by Trussell Trust food banks between April and September this year were for families with children.

Furthermore, the charity has reported an alarming 320,000 people have needed to use a food bank for the first time in the past six months, warning food banks are at ‘breaking point’ as more people in communities across the UK find themselves unable afford the essentials.

The Trussell Trust believe the situation is unlikely to change in the coming months with this stark new data leading them to forecast that food banks in their network will distribute more than a million emergency food parcels between December 2023 and February 2024 – the equivalent of providing a parcel every eight seconds this winter.

Jess Holliday, Deputy CEO at Eastbourne Foodbank said: “At Eastbourne Foodbank, our donations are down even as need remains very high. We are deeply concerned about the alarming rise in the number of children needing our support. 

"Last month, 633 of the food parcels we provided were for children. Day after day, people tell us they simply don’t have enough money to buy the basics. A client told me, ‘I have sold my car. I have sold everything and cut everything out. But that’s still not enough. All I want is enough money to pay the basic bills and have some left to buy my own food.'”

In order to reduce these relentless levels of need, the Trussell Trust is calling on the UK Government to use the upcoming Autumn Statement to build on its work to protect households on the lowest incomes.

Emma Revie, CEO of the Trussell Trust said: “These statistics are extremely alarming. An increasing number of children are growing up in families facing hunger, forced to turn to food banks to survive. A generation is growing up believing it’s normal to see a food bank in every community. This isn't right.

“Rising hunger and hardship have devastating consequences for individuals and our communities, damage the nation’s health and hold back our economy. People in work, as well as people who cannot work, are increasingly being pushed into debt and forced to turn to a food bank to survive.

“That’s why the UK Government must build on its work to protect people from increasingly severe hardship and commit to putting an Essentials Guarantee into legislation, to embed in our social security system the widely supported principle that, at a minimum, Universal Credit should protect people from going without essentials."

The Trussell Trust is encouraging people to show their support for people facing hardship by signing a petition urging UK political party leaders to support the introduction of an Essentials Guarantee to ensure that the basic rate of Universal Credit at least covers life’s essentials, such as food and bills.

That's Christmas believes that the spirit of Christmas must be with us all year round. So if you can offer any help to your local foodbank, please do so. Even if it's buying a couple of extra items of food during your regular shopping trips and donating these, as everything helps.

Also, supermarkets such as Morrisons and Tesco offer special schemes to help to ensure food gets to people in need, so do look out for these.

To learn more about The Trussell Trust please visit them here:- https://www.trusselltrust.org