Make a Difference this Christmas

Created by our fantastic Union Team Member and Staffs student, Julie. Here you can find out more about:

parent and child sat in front of a xmas tree

The BEST Christmas Volunteering Ideas

Phone a Friend

You can lift someone's spirits this Christmas from the comfort of your sofa by lending an ear to someone who might be suffering from loneliness.

It's as easy as 1-2-3 by utilising apps such as onHand, which pairs volunteers with older adults to help out and chat, AgeUK, Independent Age and Re-engage, which also pairs isolated older people with volunteer companions. As well as volunteer helplines for younger generations too.

The Mix has quite a few remote volunteer opportunities, and Shout's free text message line is hiring overnight crisis volunteers who can offer their time after 10 pm. Do-It Staffordshire also has various volunteer opportunities available, including a telephone or remote befriender. 

Food for Thought  

Hunger is a major key concern, even more so with everything that has happened in recent years. If you are down in London, the Food Bank network Trussell Trust is looking for volunteers to join its team serving 1,500 people across London daily.

If you'd rather stay at home, you can volunteer for its "check-in and chat service", which involves calling to check up on how its recipients are doing. Even just donating to the Food Bank at your local supermarket can help someone in need this Christmas. 

Mentor and Motivate 

Did you know more than 380,000 children have been stuck in lockdown without a single book?

Reading charity Bookmarkets volunteers book flexible 30-minute virtual reading sessions with children under eight to help them succeed in school, while The Access Project works with GCSE and A-level students from disadvantaged backgrounds across the UK; you can apply to volunteer and become an online tutor here »

You can help inspire young people by talking about your experiences in the workforce and how you got there with the education charity Inspiring the Future or help refugees find work with the employment charity Breaking Barriers. 

Help our Furry friends. 

Pet sales of puppies and kittens soared during the first lockdown, but many have already been abandoned.

Blue Cross is currently in need of volunteer cat fosterers for pets that have been abandoned or given up. If you don't have the resources to take in a pet, consider reaching out to animal organisations whose animals may be missing human company. 

Hands-on at Home

The United Nations Online Volunteering Service needs volunteers with research, design, fundraising, technology and translation skills for its global projects.

While Glimpse, a charity with a collective of creatives using their skills for good, are looking for copywriters, strategists, social media experts and fundraisers. 

So many options are available for volunteering this Holiday season, it doesn't take much, but YOU can make someone's life better this Christmas! 

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