Service volunteers

Crisis Christmas offers our guests an opportunity to access a range of services on the premises. The time you give over Christmas often provides the only chance guests get to have a health check-up, a haircut, their teeth and feet checked - and to feel like a valued member of society.

Advice

Our guests come to us needing advice on a wide range of issues, so in response we run a comprehensive advice service. We are looking for specialists on housing law, asylum and immigration issues, benefits, welfare rights, women’s issues and debt management, as well as people who work in relevant fields - for example as CAB advisors, resettlement workers or in homeless person units. We also need people to help co-ordinate our advice work in the centres, so if you are organised and can help out for most of the week, do get in touch.

Befriending

Our befriending service works with our more withdrawn guests in a floating role, and supports them to use the services on offer in the centres. We need qualified volunteers with a background in therapeutic work (e.g counsellors, therapists). The team works alongside the Healthcare team, giving support in cases where mental health problems are an issue.

Catering

The food service at Crisis Christmas needs over 300 volunteers to keep the kitchens running. We are looking for trained chefs and kitchen assistants - no prior experience is needed. We are always short of kitchen volunteers, so please consider this if you would like a change from general volunteering. Everyone needs to have a foundation level food hygiene certificate – Crisis is running the one day course free for anyone that requires it, on some weekends from October to December.

Dentistry

The dental service relies on qualified volunteers to provide a range of routine dental treatments – checkups, scale & polish, fillings and even extractions under local anaesthetic – and basic dental health advice and education. Volunteers need to be qualified dentists, dental nurses or hygienists – we can’t take on trainee dental professionals.

Dogs

Kennels set up enable guests with dogs to enjoy the services on offer, as well as ensuring that the dogs get a basic veterinary check-up. We ideally need people with professional or significant voluntary experience of handling and working with dogs (e.g. handlers, veterinary staff, kennels experience).

Health care

Our healthcare service provides advice and assessment, plus some limited interventions and treatment, supported by a pharmacy service. We are looking for qualified doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and receptionists plus those with experience of working with people with dependency issues to help run mobile clinics in all our centres.

Hairdressing and salon

This service helps boost the self-esteem of our guests by providing wash, cut and blow-dry services – and making them look fabulous! As well as hairdressers and barbers, we are always on the lookout for people who would like to be hairdressing assistants or help run the salon – you don’t always need qualifications to help out, just enthusiasm. We also provide a nail bar so if you have relevant skills in this area please do sign up today!

Massage and therapies

We aim to provide a range of massage and therapies to our guests across all centres – including traditional massage, shiatsu, reflexology, Indian head massage and more – to ensure they receive a full and holistic approach to their health.

Opticians

Our opticians’ service provides eye examinations to the same standard as those completed at a high street opticians, with non-complex prescription spectacles provided by the end of the week. Complex prescription spectacles are provided by January.

Podiatry

Our podiatry service provides a range of treatments and foot care advice to our guests, mainly treating corns and callus, mycotic and gryphotic nails, and much blistering and maceration.

Podiatry students are welcome in support roles within the service.

Sewing and alterations

The sewing service makes alterations to guests' clothing and other items that need repairing. Volunteers don’t need really high level skills, just enough to handle basic alterations of clothing (turning up trousers, sewing on patches etc.). We often struggle for volunteers in this valuable service, so don't be shy - give it a try!