National charity Crisis is calling for Londoners to volunteer their time to help provide support to people experiencing homelessness this Christmas.
In the capital, Crisis will be providing hotel accommodation to hundreds of people who would otherwise be sleeping rough this Christmas, as well as opening three day centres for people stuck in insecure accommodation – such as hostels and B&Bs.
By volunteering for one shift – roughly the same amount of time it takes to watch three classic Christmas movies – people can help someone experiencing homelessness at one of the toughest times of the year. Whether this is offering a warm welcome, delivering festive hampers, serving meals, or providing personalised support, all volunteers are essential in helping Crisis provide its life changing Christmas services.
Crisis is calling on Londoners to sign up for essential roles that will ensure that each guest has access to health, wellbeing and support services. The charity is particularly looking for volunteers to fill the following shifts:
Hotel assistant volunteers
Hairdressers and barbers
Nail technicians
Podiatrists
Physiotherapists
Eye care professionals
Advice volunteers
Drivers for the centres
This call comes at a time when recent data from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) revealed that 4,780 people were seen sleeping rough in London between July and September 2024 – a significant increase of 18% compared to the same period last year. This further emphasises how vital Crisis’ Christmas services will be in supporting people this winter, and why the need for volunteers is so important.
The hotels and day centres in London form part of the nationwide services that the charity will be running over Christmas. Through Crisis’ year-round services, hotels and health and wellbeing programmes, the organisation will be supporting over 6,000 people this Christmas. This specialist support will provide vital help for people finding their own stable home and developing their skills and confidence to rebuild their lives away from homelessness during the festive season and beyond.
Lydia, aged 40 from Twickenham, is a primary school teacher who has been volunteering with Crisis at Christmas for around 17 years, beginning when she was at university. She says:
“For most people, Christmas is a time when they come together with family or friends and celebrate the festive season with a roof over their heads. But sadly, not everyone is able to have that.
“When volunteering at a Crisis day centre I always take people under my wing who are particularly vulnerable, focusing my energy on providing them with companionship and a friendly face whilst helping them access as many services as possible.
“I have met so many wonderful people through volunteering and have been incredibly humbled. One year, I remember handing over a month’s supply of toiletries to a guest who was so grateful that she wanted to donate the little money she had to give back to others. This is why I believe it’s important for guests to be around people who won’t just walk past them, but people who make eye contact and treat them like humans in a safe space. Simple gestures can truly make such a difference.”
Michael Phillips, Head of Volunteering at Crisis, said:
“Crisis at Christmas simply wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our amazing volunteers who provide our guests with support, warmth and companionship as they begin their journey out of homelessness.
“Our hotels and day centres provide a vital lifeline for our guests with our dedicated volunteers, some returning year on year, creating a sense of community for every person that comes through our doors. They form long-lasting connections with guests that can be life changing for someone experiencing homelessness at one of the toughest times of year.
“If you can, please join our team of friendly, passionate volunteers in London and help us ensure that hundreds of people this Christmas discover a life beyond homelessness.”
