Festive Opportunities (December 2023 – January 2024)
FESTIVE PERIOD
We wish you a happy festivity (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year) during the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
If you are interested in volunteering during this festive season, you can register your volunteering profile and search for available roles or attend one of our volunteering information advice sessions.
1) General Shop Volunteer – Sue Ryder Charity Shop
72 Essex Rd, London N1 8LT
December 2023 – January 2024
As a Charity Shop Volunteer in Islington Sue Ryder charity shop, you will be one of the store’s friendly faces who will help us to provide the best customer experience whilst playing an important role in raising funds for our charity work. Please note they have a minimum age requirement in our shops of 18. For more information, sign up here.
2) Community gardening volunteering – The Garden Classroom
Newington Green, N1 4RF
December 2023 and throughout the coming year
Volunteers support The Garden Classroom facilitators in delivering high-quality, hands-on sessions in green spaces across Islington and beyond. They will offer a full induction and training and ask for a minimum commitment of 15 half-day sessions, and all volunteers adhere to TGC’s child protection and safeguarding policy, which includes a full DBS check. For more information on the role, visit the website here.
3) Soup Kitchen and Foodbank volunteers – St John’s Soup Kitchen and Foodbank
Queens Drive, London, N4 2LW
December 2023 and throughout the coming year
Foodbank volunteers would check stock levels to be ready for the shift and prepare the order form for the beginning of the session. Helped manage the queue of guests, engaged with guests to take their orders, packed food parcels, and took them to the guests. For more information on the roles, visit the website here.
4) Christmas Day Volunteer Drivers – The Food Chain
439 Caledonian Road, London N7 9BG
25th of December 2023
Volunteers will receive a pickup plan with full postcodes, names and approximate pickup times so you know who you’re picking up, when and from where. Volunteers must be over 18, have a valid UK driving license and be available the whole of Christmas day, 25th of December 2023. For more information on the role, visit the website here.
5) Preparing and delivering food baskets – Basket Brigade UK
Woodside High School, White Hart Lane, Wood Green, Tottenham N22 5QJ
December 23rd 2023
Basket Brigade UK is a loving, charitable organisation that delivers baskets of food (and love) to those who could use a helping hand in this festive season. At Basket Brigade UK, December 23rd is like no other day as hundreds and hundreds of people (usually about 700) come together for one day to help create about 1500 baskets of food (and love) which they later deliver to those in need. It is a hard-working but FUN day, and it is so rewarding to those who volunteer. Find out more here.
6) Winter Shelter volunteering – C4WS Homeless Project at Kings Cross Methodist Church
58A Birkenhead St, London WC1H 8BW
From November 2023 to the end of March 2024
The winter shelter will run from the start of November to the end of March. Each shift relies on volunteers to help with set-up, food preparation, making and stripping beds, and providing hospitality to our guests. For more information on the role, visit the website here.
7) Pianist required – The Salvation Army
10-16 Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, London NW3 2BL
25th of December 2023
The Salvation Army in Chalk Farm (Camden) is looking for a pianist on Monday 25th December 2023. If you are interested please click here to email Michael. Do not forget to add your mobile number and full name.
8) Emergency Food Voucher Programme Volunteer – Centre Point White Chapel
Central House, 25 Camperdown St, London E1 8DZ
Throughout December 2023 – Monday and/or Friday (2hrs per day with morning and afternoon slots)
Volunteers will play an integral part in supporting young people experiencing financial hardship. Through the scheme, young people can request a voucher to support the cost of food and baby items. As the Emergency Food Voucher Programme volunteer, you will be helping the AIM Team to expand the delivery of this much-needed support so that they can reach even more young people. For more information on the role, visit the website here.
9) Various volunteering opportunities – De Paul
Sherborne House, 34 Decima St, London SE1 4QQ
December 2023
There are various volunteering opportunities available such as becoming a nightstop host, a mentor to young people and and supported Lodgings host. Find out more here
10) Kitchen Support Volunteer – The Passage
Passage House, 1-5 Longmoore Street, London, SW1V 1JH
December 2023 and throughout the year
Kitchen Support Volunteers will help either chef with all aspects of food preparation, washing up and helping maintain the kitchen as a hygienic and safe area. You may be serving hot food to clients, so there will be some interaction with people staying at Passage House. Find out more here.
11) Various volunteering roles – The Felix Project
Unit 3, Origin Business Park, Rainsford Road, London, NW10 7FW
December 2023 and all though out the year
Volunteer with The Felix Project and join thousands of fellow Londoners in the fight against food waste and hunger. We are London’s leading food redistribution charity. To become a Felix volunteer, you can choose to attend an online info session on how to get involved, have your next steps emailed to you, or come in for an in-person info session where you will have the opportunity to do a taster shift! Find out more here.
12) Christmas pop-up shop volunteers – Cards For Good Causes
All over London
Throughout December 2023
Volunteers will work at any local Christmas pop-up shop, from helping to set up and run the shop to local promotion and social media. For more information on the role, visit the website here.
13) Christmas volunteering – Crisis
All over London
Throughout December 2023
Volunteer roles include providing fresh and nourishing home-cooked meals for guests and members, offering specialist services such as haircuts, podiatry and physiotherapy, driving guests and/or wellbeing packages and offering advice. For more information on the role, visit the website here.
Volunteering in charity shops & hospitals
King’s College Hospital – Volunteering
Marie Curie – Retail Volunteer – Archway
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice – Volunteer eBay Assistant
Oxfam High Street – Shop Assistant | Jewellery Specialist Volunteer
Oxfam Highgate – Fashion & Home Sales Assistant Volunteer
Oxfam Upper Street – Bookshop / Music Shop volunteer | Intern Bookshop and Music Shop
Shelter – Holloway Road Shelter Charity Shop Volunteer
The Big Issue – Magazine Distribution Office Frontline Volunteer
Wandsworth Oasis – Shop Volunteer
Whittington Health Charity – Charity Merchandise Stall Volunteer | Volunteering
Check Festive Opportunities offered in previous years: 2013 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022
Volunteer Centre Islington for volunteers: 1-2-1 advice | Login as a volunteer | Search for roles | Peabody’s residents | Contact us
Further assistance about local services
If you have a chance, talk to those who might require support and provide some information:
– Food banks and hot meals | Islington Community Food Services
– Shower and laundry facilities | Housing advice and storage | Service for local residents | Other charities providing support to homeless people in London
-North Central London Integrated Care System: Information & Services
– Islington Council Website: Money and Debt Advice | Benefits Calculator | Resident Support Scheme | Tax Credits are ending, find out more here |
If you are aware of other relevant services, information, activities or volunteering opportunities, please, email us at volunteer@vai.org.uk
