Committed and passionate volunteers are needed to provide warmth, comfort and vital services at the Crisis Women’s Centre in London as part of Crisis at Christmas 2015.

Crisis at Christmas 2015 runs from 23 – 30 December and with more centres than ever opening their doors, over 10,000 volunteers will be needed to make Crisis at Christmas happen for guests this year. As well as warmth, companionship and hot meals, guests in London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Coventry and Edinburgh will receive healthcare and specialist advice on housing, work and benefits.

The Women’s Centre is a referral-only centre and only those who identify as female are able to sign up as General Volunteers.

The centre is run by volunteers from all walks of life. Registration is now open at crisis.org.uk/volunteer, with a variety of roles on offer, including:

 

  • General volunteers who chat to guests, serve food, sort bedding and make sure the centres are happy, welcoming places to be

 

  • Night shift volunteers, who provide the essential support that keeps Crisis’ centres running 24 hours a day throughout the Christmas period

 

  • Advice Volunteers, who to talk to guests about highly emotive issues such as their housing or benefits situation, immigration status or legal difficulties

 

  • Befriending volunteers, who encourage guests to use the services on offer to them in the centres and work closely with the healthcare and advice teams, providing support in cases where mental health problems are involved

 

The Women’s centre will also host a ‘Focus on Your Future’ event on 28 December to promote services and opportunities available to our guests all year round.

 

Homelessness can be particularly dangerous for women. 28 per cent have formed an unwanted sexual partnership and 20 per cent have engaged in sex work to get a roof over their heads.

 

Crisis would like to invite women’s groups to ‘Focus on your Future’ at our Women’s Centre, where there will be the opportunity to promote year round services and opportunities at the largest volunteer-led project in UK.

 

Please contact for more information or you can visit our website to find out more about Crisis at Christmas 2015.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Christmas can be a lonely, isolating time for those without a home to call their own. This year has seen an alarming rise in the number of rough sleepers in England, all of whom deserve the shelter, companionship and support many of us take for granted at Christmas.

“That’s why the compassion and dedication of Crisis at Christmas volunteers is needed more than ever. By helping to make Christmas happen for homeless people, volunteers can not only bring some much-needed cheer to our guests but also set them up with the chance to have a more positive year ahead through the life-changing services at our Crisis Skylight centres.”

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