Calling all night owls:
16 December 2009
Urgent appeal for volunteers to help homeless people this Christmas
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Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, is making an urgent call for volunteers- in particular night owls to cover the overnight shifts this Christmas. Volunteers are desperately needed so that Crisis can deliver vital services to homeless people at Crisis Christmas which runs from 23 to 30 December 2009.
Up to nine temporary centres will be set up across London by Crisis. The centres will provide companionship and hot meals for homeless and vulnerably housed people as well as vital services, including health checks, and housing and job advice to help people take their first steps out of homelessness.
Crisis Christmas- still going strong in its 38th year- could not function without the support of thousands of volunteers. Crisis is urgently looking for volunteers in the following areas:
- Night owls- volunteers for night shifts are urgently needed in all our centres
- Residential Centres- volunteers are needed in our Dependency Centre (Battersea), Quiet Centre (Islington), Women’s Centre (West London) and Rough Sleeper’s Centre (East London)
- Stratford- volunteers for afternoon shifts are needed at our day centre in Stratford
- Opticians, befrienders and massage specialists- volunteers with specialist skills are urgently needed to help deliver vital services
With over 8,000 volunteers, Crisis Christmas is the largest volunteer led event in the UK. Volunteers comment that helping out over the festive period is the best way to spend Christmas. Actress Romy Tennant first volunteered at Crisis Christmas in 2001. Romy said: "I really enjoyed it so I went back for more the next year. Last year was the first time I'd volunteered on Christmas Day and it was great- obviously very sobering, sad and thought-provoking in some ways- but it felt like a really good way to spend Christmas Day. It felt in keeping with the true Christmas spirit, as opposed to sitting at home getting fat!"
Leslie Morphy, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: "Crisis Christmas would be impossible without the time and dedication shown year in, year out by our thousands of volunteers. They provide invaluable companionship and services to some of society's most vulnerable people, but also gain much from the experience in return."
To find out more about volunteering opportunities this Christmas, please visit the website www.crisis.org.uk/volunteering or call 020 7426 3899.
Ends
For further media information, please contact Anne Grenyer, Press Officer, on 020 7426 3830 or email anne.grenyer@crisis.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. We are dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change. Our innovative education, employment, housing and well-being services address individual needs and help homeless people to transform their lives. We measure our success and can demonstrate tangible results and value for money. We are determined campaigners, working to prevent people from becoming homeless and advocating solutions informed by research and our direct experience. We have ambitious plans for the future and are committed to help more people in more places across the UK. We know we won't end homelessness overnight or on our own. But we take a lead, collaborate with others and together make change happen. For more, see www.crisis.org.uk
Crisis Christmas
- At Christmas we provide companionship and support to alleviate loneliness and isolation and help people to take their first steps out of homelessness.
- We welcome nearly 2,000 guests in nine centres across London. Our residential centres provide accommodation for rough sleepers, and people with specific needs such as women and those with dependency issues.
- For the vulnerably housed, we run specialist day centres, which are based in schools and colleges, providing an inspirational environment. Across all our centres guests can benefit from 20 different services, learning opportunities, vital medical help, housing and job advice.
- We link our guests up to year-round services and encourage them to come to Crisis services in the New Year so we can continue to provide opportunities that will help them transform their lives.
- With over 8,000 volunteers, Crisis Christmas is the largest volunteer led event in the UK.
