Give The Gift Of Giving This Xmas

As most of us look forward to a break spent overeating and surrounded by family in front of fireplaces, not everyone can be as lucky. However there are ways that you can help and feel fulfilled, as opposed to just full. These are our top picks when it comes to simple ways to both give and receive around London this Christmas.

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Operation Christmas Child

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Pack a shoebox with small gifts such as toys and cards and donate it to operation Christmas child, who bring presents and joy to children around the world. This also makes for a fun family activity or annual tradition that you can do all together, and is a great way to re-purpose or re-use unwanted gifts and items from around the house.

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Mary’s Meals

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Set the place for one more at your virtual table with a donation of just £12.20, which will feed a child at school in some of the world’s poorest communities, in some cases for a whole school year, proving that a little goes a long way. They also have plenty of practical ways that you can work with the organisation throughout the year.

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The Hygiene Bank

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Give the gift of dignity this Christmas. You have the power to make life better for people experiencing homelessness or poverty this Christmas. Simply choose a bag that you no longer use, fill it with personal hygiene products that are little luxuries for people in unfortunate circumstances, and add a Christmas card to show that someone cares. Visit the charity website to organise a collection or visit a local partner.

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For example, if you are in the Whitechapel area, x+why Co-working space are an annual affiliate and will deliver all donations before Christmas! You could also consider organising a collection at your own office or local workspace.

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Crisis At Christmas

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Crisis is the biggest volunteering operation across the nation and takes place in crisis day centres and rough sleeper centres. Applications are open for a wide range of volunteer roles encompassing doctors, musicians, cooks, good listeners and more. Every day they work around the clock to take more people out of homelessness. Take your favourite Christmas tradition and turn it into a fundraising festivity by collecting donations for Crisis.

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Whitechapel Mission

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The Whitechapel Mission receives as many as 300 visitors a day in December. They provide basic needs such as hot food, clothing, medical care, dentistry, as well as benefits, debt counselling and other appropriate help. As The Whitechapel Mission cares for their most vulnerable guests in the face of COVID-19, they are supported by volunteers in activities adjusted for social distancing and safety as much as possible.

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Salvation Army

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Salvation Army run the annual Christmas Present Appeal. Volunteers are needed to sort through donations of toys and gifts, as well as serving festive meals. They have 650 churches and community centres which offer friendship, practical help and support to some of the most disadvantaged people in our communities.

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Their community centres (or corps as they are often called) - offer a range of activities and services within local communities. People can get involved in all sorts of ways, through volunteering with fundraising initiatives, attending church services and helping with local activities within 22 territorial divisions.

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Team London

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‘Team London’ is the Google for volunteering opportunities. Simply type the word ‘Christmas’ into the search bar to be greeted with a variety of festive flavours in your local area, from bucket collections to choirs and fairs. Other great search sites include Hands On London, Time Bank and Do-It, which bring people from different backgrounds and communities together to make London a happier and more unified city. They offer hundreds of high-quality volunteering roles from a wide range of approved organisations. With both one-off and ongoing roles, there’s something for everyone.

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Shelter From The Storm

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A homeless shelter in Islington that is open all year round. As with all shelters, demand is much higher in the winter, and people are needed for shifts including cooking, cleaning, serving food and talking to guests. Whether it’s cooking, serving meals, doing laundry, getting to know residents or staying overnight to make sure that everything runs smoothly, Hackney Night Shelter are also always looking for more hands on deck over the Christmas season. Open from November to March every year, they provide hot food and beds for those that would otherwise be facing the cold on the streets.

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The London Basket Brigade

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For many families, affording a sizeable Christmas dinner can be a struggle. The London Basket Brigade deliver 1,250 baskets on 23rd December every year, which are all put together, driven and delivered by volunteers. The Rotary Club also holds a massive Christmas day lunch and tea party for over 65s living in Wandsworth, and around 450 elderly residents who would otherwise be alone take part each year. You can choose to volunteer on either Xmas eve, Christmas day or Boxing day, preparing the venue, helping to transport guests, serve food and ensure that everyone has a good time.

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