Has anyone had any experience of giving some of their time to help charities out on Xmas day.
I don’t have my kids until late evening so looking for options and suggestions of where to go and help out.
Living in Exeter.

That’s not a bad idea. Might suggest it to the Mrs.

Problem is I suspect you might need a CRB check these days.

‘Crisis’ have plenty of volunteering opportunities available over Xmas and you don’t need any previous experience for many of their posts. They are mainly in London and therefore geographically might not be any use to you I’m guessing but I’m sure there are similar organisations in Exeter.

Homelessness is a huge problem that is found all over the country and many organisations could do with a bit of help at Xmas. Most organisations tend to operate shifts, with Crisis’ shift patterns being 8:00 to 16:00 then 16:00 to 23:00 and 23:000 to 08:00 and they require you to do a minimum of 3 shifts, so be prepared to fit in with the charities requirements. Other organisations may vary with shifts etc.

It’s very rewarding giving up your time to help others feel a bit better about themselves. Simply sitting with someone for a couple of hours can make a difference, even if you are just listening.

Crisis don’t require you to be CRB checked.

365 days in a year and everyone thinks its a good idea to volunteer on christmas day, you have other days off to volunteer , homlessness, feeding people, etc, happen all year round, charity is not just for christmas,

project – Member
365 days in a year and everyone thinks its a good idea to volunteer on christmas day, you have other days off to volunteer , homlessness, feeding people, etc, happen all year round, charity is not just for christmas,

POSTED 37 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

What a curious thing to say!

Some shelters, hostels and charities actually restrict their opening hours and entry criteria over the festive break and this can put extra pressure on already stretched services. This is a gap that Crisis fills very well and the guests certainly appreciate it. A lot of guests come to Crisis year after year as they have built up trust with Crisis that they don’t with other organisations and additionally Crisis are very nonjudgemental with whatever issues the guests might have.

What a strange thing to believe, homelessness and being hungry exist every day,and all charities like volunteers if they can do something all year just not on one day at christmas.

Perhaps offer to help your local food bank at night weekends, delivering and collecting food, a local shelter, a soup run, etc etc, drop some food off on your shop in the food bank bin, all stuff that can be done all year, like i said not just a few dys over christmas .

Project, I get it better to volunteer every day, but surely it’s better to do some than none. The fact that it could (I don’t know if this is so but I suspect it is) be when volunteers are fewer is a bonus surely?

loads of stuff on social media about people going to volunteer on christmas day, just so they can make out theyre doing something to their workmates and freinds, i do volunteer work but dont just do it on one day its an all year thing, and sometimes people youre helping say thankyou, which makes it all worthwhile.

So it’s better to do none and sit at home watching telly eating sweets?!

only on here would someone’s suggestion of giving up their christmas to do good for other people be met with the response “if you don’t do it every day of the year like me you shouldn’t bother, you’re only doing it to make yourself look good”

🙄

Evening’. Project I understand where you are coming from but I think it’s a great idea, something for me to show my son. To reinforce on the one day that is commercialised to the Max about the true spirit of what we should be focusing on.

I give my time volunteering for various things locally and will also contact the Salvation Army locally to see what me & boy could do that day.

He makes a good point.

When that festive spirit rises and somebody thinks, “perhaps I should do a good thing”

We should criticise them, yeh, that’ll help!

I do get the “point”

But you can’t go all morally self righteous on folk volunteering at Christmas. See it as an opportunity to recruit volunteers who’ll come back. Create an positive atmosphere where they’ll feel valued, and there actions worthwhile. And then if your lucky, some will come back.

Spread the love, not the sanctimonious wrath. Volunteers, especially good ones are a rare commodity and should be encouraged at every juncture.

I didn’t have very good experience when I volunteered (not on christmas day I must add) for some stuff locally, I resented being very cheap contracted labour.

Good to see the christmas spirit has removed project from his usual Mr Scrooge persona and he has brought his happy face to STW

I didn’t have very good experience when I volunteered (not on christmas day I must add) for some stuff locally, I resented being very cheap contracted labour.

Well that sucks. Did you feel it was an institutional/systemic failing, or bad management on the day.

I know, they’re both institutional failings, the latter being lack of training and vetting.

I travel from Dorset to volunteer with Crisis over the festive period although not Christmas day as the wife won’t allow me.
There is a homeless organisation in Bristol who used to be looking for volunteers over Christmas.

I for one am not volunteering on Christmas Day, even though I’m not working for a change, and it looks like my 88 year old mother will be spending it in hospital, where she’s been for almost 4 weeks so far.
My brother, who’s is coming over to visit, and I will be spending it making sure she has a good family Christmas this year.
I take my hat off to anyone who gives up their time to do something for others, no matter what time of year it is.
If everyone one did something it’s be a better world to live in:-)

why not volunteer or just turn up at the lake district , and help those people who have lost their possesions, their homes are unihabitable, who cant go to work due to no trasnsport,because their vehicle has been flooded or have no job due to their company being flooded out, small things like taking mops and buckets, cleaning stuff, a bag of food for the food bank etc all help.

Exeter

There you go Mooly

https://www.exetercvs.org.uk/volunteer/volunteering-news/4254-are-you-on-your-own-on-christmas-day

Project, you may be trying to make a valid point, but you’re coming across as a knob

Good grief! What happend to this thread 8O. Someone needs more than a hug 😯

I wouldn’t mind a hug

give StPetrock’s a call, if they don’t need help they probably can point you in the right direction!

Meals on Wheels – my folks did this last year delivering lunch and a chat to the old folk round them. Try the Lions or WI etc

This from a reputable newspaper and a homeless charity.

http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2013/dec/13/homeless-volunteering-christmas-rough-sleeping

Not everyone project – I’ve volunteered other times but never at Christmas.

Get it right next time please pal.

Blog post from the National Council for Voluntary Organisation.

Making a difference this Christmas

Crisis also recruiting for Christmas http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/volunteer-christmas.html