Christmas and New Year can be a lonely time for many across the country. A time for family, love and celebration is not always the case, and the reality can prove the holiday season to be an extremely challenging and isolating time of year.
If you’d like to give something back this year and spread community spirit, then have a look at this selection of Volunteering opportunities in and around Brighton over the Winter months.
These charities/services are all wholly supportive of the underprivileged and disadvantaged in Brighton and continue to do amazing work throughout the year in aid of this. 2020 can be the year of giving back, so dig deep and offer any help you can this Christmas and New Year.
The Clock Tower Sanctuary – Day Care Assistant
The Clock Tower Sanctuary is a safe space for 16-25 year olds who are homeless, providing them with access to services and support. They provide the everyday things such as a place to shower, the chance to do laundry, eat a healthy cooked meal, use computers and receive post. What may seem to us as daily regularities, for many young people in Brighton this is their only chance to meet these practical needs and experience what we often take for granted. By offering these services as well as a safe space, young homeless people can begin to focus on their futures.
How to get involved: The Clock Tower Sanctuary are recruiting more day centre volunteers in early 2020. If you’d like to find out more, please e-mail [email protected].
Check out the website here for more information on volunteering.
Brighton Housing Trust – Christmas Collection Volunteer
BHT is a housing association and a homeless charity that provides essential services across Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne and Hastings, as well as elsewhere in Sussex. They aim to both challenge the causes of homelessness, poverty and marginalisation and to deal with the consequences. This Winter, many people will be bedding down on the cold streets. When the temperature drops, this can be life-threatening for someone who is homeless.
However, First Base (BHT’s homeless day centre) is open throughout the year and all over the festive season, providing food, warmth and comfort to those who need it most. Offer a helping hand this Christmas, and find out below on how you can get involved.
How to get involved: BHT are looking for volunteers to help us with their annual Christmas collection, taking place on Saturday 21 December, 11am – 2pm in various locations across Brighton & Hove. The money raised goes directly towards First Base Day Centre. Wrap up warm, spare a few hours, hold a collection bucket and spread some cheer. They are also encouraging volunteers to wear something festive – a Christmas jumper, hat, tinsel, a Santa suit. Once your shift is over then BHT offers a tempting reward of warming up at their London Road office with a hot drink and mince pie!
Email [email protected] if you’d like to register your interest as a Christmas Collection Volunteer.
Check out their website here for more information and other volunteering opportunities at BHT.
Maycroft Manor Care Home – Volunteer / Befriender
Volunteer befriending is the most popular activity undertaken by volunteers at Maycroft Manor, a care home in Brighton & Hove where residents are supported to live an active and fulfilled life. Volunteer befrienders offer a range of help including visiting our residents for a coffee and a chat, reading the newspaper or a book, or providing guidance on how to use a computer. As the New Year approaches, this opportunity in helping the elderly offers a highly rewarding and worthwhile experience. See how you can get involved and help by following the links below.
How to get involved: Click here to find out more about the application process to become a volunteer/befriender.
Check out their website here for more information and other volunteering opportunities at Maycroft.
Brighton & Hove City Council – Homeless Prevention Volunteers
BHCC’s work concentrates on preventing as many people from becoming homeless. The homeless application process can feel overwhelming and incredibly stressful, and the BHCC aims to respond to this by providing a more friendly place for people to discuss their housing problems. become an integral part of the future of the Housing Options service and the customers in the city that it serves.
How to get involved: The opportunity is available to apply to become a Homeless Prevention Volunteer. This role may suit people who are passionate about supporting customers who may be vulnerable and/or in housing crisis and it may also suit people with lived experience of homelessness.
Register your interest and find out more about the role here.
