Hear from sponsored volunteer Steve

Every year, thousands of incredible people give their time to volunteer at Crisis at Christmas. 

Whether they are providing a warm welcome to people walking through the doors, delivering festive hampers in their community, or preparing and service nourishing meals, every volunteer helps to make change that lasts a lifetime. 

Some volunteers make their impact go even further by asking friends and family to sponsor them, raising money that helps people with housing, employment, and education - long after Christmas is over.

Long-term volunteer Steve has shared some reflections on his 15 years of volunteering with Crisis, and top tips to getting sponsored. 

I started sponsored volunteering once I became a key volunteer, as I started talking enthusiastically about my experience to my friends, family and work clients. They were all interested and wanted to do something to help as well.

Often people think about volunteering, but it’s not always possible. So if they can sponsor a Crisis volunteer, it makes them feel that they are part of it.

Every year I send an email out to all my family, friends and work clients in the first week of December. I find that is when people are starting to think about getting festive and giving!

I include what we are about to do across Crisis at Christmas, as well as what Crisis does all year round.

As soon as I see anybody has sponsored me, I send an email or text to thank them from me personally. I also set the auto-reply message of my own on the JustGiving page. It just makes it all more real and personal – that every donation and person is noticed and they are making a difference.

When I have finished volunteering and my sponsorship page is closed, I send an email to all the people who have sponsored me thanking them and telling them how much they have helped me raise. I also include that year’s stats from Crisis, on what we delivered and how many guests we helped across the hotels and day centres. That way, it makes it feel a direct result and achievement that the sponsor has helped with.

I now have many sponsors who donate each year or at times when they are able to. Some even chase me for the email and link each year to make sure I am doing it!

To sum up – make it personal and let people know what you are doing, how and why, and what Crisis does all year round, as well as at Christmas.

Share your feelings and passion about how you have experienced volunteering. The more you show you care, the more other people will care too.

You will help make a difference and it will make a difference to you.

Good luck, go for it and enjoy it!

Thank you to Steve and all our amazing volunteers and sponsored volunteers. 

Feeling inspired? Find out more about sponsored volunteering, or click the button below to set up your own JustGiving page!

Set up a sponsored volunteering JustGiving page