Crisis Newcastle are looking for volunteers this Christmas in order to support their services, which are helping people to get out of homelessness at a very difficult time. The charity's Skylight centre will once again be providing warmth, companionship and vital support to hundreds of people who are experiencing homelessness in the region.
These services and support include food and gift hamper deliveries, health and wellbeing sessions and festive activities which will be put on throughout December. People who are experiencing homelessness on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day will also be given a full Christmas Dinner.
For over 50 years, volunteers have played an incredibly important role in ensuring that Crisis can continue to provide support for people in these situations, with the organisation's year-round support helping people to leave homelessness behind for good. Currently, across Britain over 250,000 households are experiencing the worst forms of homelessness; sleeping on the streets, spending night after night at a friend or family member's house or being stuck in nightly paid temporary accommodation.
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For the thousands of people that will be supported by Crisis at Christmas every year, the services and support offer the first step in helping them discover a life beyond homelessness. Over 2400 households in Newcastle are currently facing this issue, with Crisis Skylight Newcastle supporting over 540 people between 2022 and 2023.
The preparations are well under way for this year's festive offering and Crisis is now calling on volunteers from across the region to sign up and fill the vital roles that allow each and every guest to have access to health, wellbeing and support services. The organisation is looking for volunteers with experience as any of the following:
- Masseurs
- Podiatrists
- Physiotherapists
- Entertainers
- Drivers
- Kitchen assistants
Michael Phillips, Head of Volunteering at Crisis, said: "Crisis at Christmas simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our amazing volunteers, who year on year provide our guests with support and companionship as they begin their journey out of homelessness.
"Volunteering at Christmas doesn’t just provide a lifeline to guests; it also sees our volunteers come together to build a sense of community for our guests at one of the toughest times of the year. So please, if you can, join our team of passionate and loyal volunteers and help us to ensure that thousands of people can discover a life beyond homelessness."
For more information on each of the roles available, and to sign up, visit the crisis website here.
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