Christmas charity events and volunteering opportunities: London 2019

Central: Crisis & The Salvation Army

Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, is looking for volunteers in all fields to help out in its centres this Christmas. From musicians to teachers, healthcare workers to hairdressers, the charity is calling on professionals – as well as those willing to offer more general support – to volunteer at their centres, which are extremely busy at this time of year.

Alternatively, visit the homeless.org website to find your closest emergency shelter and get in touch to see if they need any in-house support this Christmas. From making beds to cooking meals, it’s an opportunity to truly support those in need in your local community.

The Salvation Army also works with homeless people as well as vulnerable older people, those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, and victims of human trafficking and other major emergencies. There are many opportunities to volunteer at Salvation Army churches and community centres over Christmas, and tasks involve everything from sorting donated presents from the Toys & Tins Appeal to serving festive meals and helping out at the charity’s winter night shelters.

North: London Basket Brigade & Shelter from the Storm

The Basket Brigade takes donations – both edible and financial – all year round in order to put together Christmas hampers to feed families struggling to make ends meet. On 23 December, the donations are put to good use as the hampers are delivered to homes across the city. The London Basket Brigade is looking for volunteers to help deliver the baskets and make Christmas happen for those relying on the charity’s support.

Islingtonites, meanwhile, might want to register for a shift with Shelter from the Storm, the borough’s free homeless centre which is open all year round but busiest over the festive period. Volunteers are currently needed in the morning to prepare and serve breakfast; in the evening to help with cooking, cleaning and spending time talking with the shelter’s residents; and overnight to help keep guests safe.

South: Rotary club & Community Christmas

Every year, the Rotary club in Wandsworth puts on a Christmas lunch for elderly local citizens. The event usually sits around 450 guests and relies on volunteers to ensure everything runs smoothly. Tasks include setting up the venue on Christmas Eve, escorting guests to and from their homes via pre-arranged coaches on the day, preparing and serving the lunch, and clearing everything away following the afternoon’s entertainment. Volunteers also get to enjoy a plate of the full works and join the guests in dancing, sing-alongs and bingo. Help is also needed again on Boxing Day to clear up the marquee and kitchens.

Community Christmas is another charity with a mission to ensure older people are not alone on Christmas Day. The charity operates from a range of outlets across the UK, so use the search function on the site to find the nearest Community Christmas branch to you.

West: Mayhew Animal Welfare Charity

Animal welfare charities like Mayhew often find themselves overrun during the Christmas period, when staff numbers are low and the number of animals being brought in high. Mayhew in Kensal Green is one such charity. Funded entirely by the public, it relies on over 1,000 hours of volunteer time per month to look after its animals – up to 30 dogs and 150 cats at any given time. Volunteers (who must be 18 ) are asked to commit to the same shifts each week but can choose the amount of time that’s right for them. Roles include everything from working on the reception desk to cleaning out kennels and walking dogs.

If you can’t commit to regular shifts but live within an hour’s drive of Mayhew, you can also foster a cat or dog, while the charity looks for a permanent home. Alternatively, you can support Mayhew’s work financially by donating via their website (it takes a hefty £6,000 a day to run the charity), or join the team for a jolly at their Christmas carol concert on 3 December at St Giles-in-the-Fields. Tickets cost £20 (or £10 for children) and while your furry friends will have to sit this one out, you can pick up treats for them in the raffle as well as mince pies and a well-earned glass of mulled wine for yourself.

East: Hackney Winter Night Shelter

Hackney Winter Night Shelter is a year-round facility run by a body of 600 volunteers, that operates out of several different venues around Hackney. As with most London shelters, Hackney Winter Night Shelter is particularly busy over the festive period and relies on its volunteers to assemble beds, cook, serve food and make conversation with guests. Overnight volunteers are also needed for shifts to ensure guests have a peaceful night, and to help serve breakfast in the morning. Those with special skills – such as a foreign language – are particularly in demand, while those willing to help with laundry or to simply play a game of Scrabble with guests are also valuable to the team.