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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Volunteering on xmas day

26 replies

AlrightyyThen · 13/12/2019 10:29

Less of an AIBU more of a, "is this a thing"?

I have a lot of free time on xmas day and locally there aren't any volunteering opportunities (we don't have any homeless here). I've had a google but thought there would be more need for it than there seems to be? I'm in the North.

OP posts:
churchandstate · 13/12/2019 10:32

Crisis at Christmas? I’ve volunteered with them on Christmas Day in the past.

userxx · 13/12/2019 10:33

No homeless people at all? Where abouts in the North do you live?

lifeisgoodagain · 13/12/2019 10:36

There will projects for homeless (they are everywhere), refugees, the elderly etc. Care homes would probably love someone to spend time with residents, especially those with younger clients

ThighThighOfthigh · 13/12/2019 10:39

You could ask at your local church if there's a Christmas meal going on locally for the elderly.

Original poster
AlrightyyThen · 13/12/2019 10:45

Thank you for your ideas, i'll try having a look.

I live in the rural west, think farmers and no city for hours. I do drive though and won't be having a drink so driving isn't a problem.

OP posts:
MsVestibule · 13/12/2019 10:47

The problem with people volunteering for an organisation one day of the year is that they're untrained so can be more trouble than they're worth.

I used to volunteer in a hospice every week and used to hate it when my regular shift fell on Christmas/Boxing Day - I spent more time supervising them then actually doing the work.

However, if you contact all of the homeless organisations in your area, I'm sure one of them will find you something simple and helpful to do.

MojoMoon · 13/12/2019 10:47

Is there a local contact the elderly (now called re- engage)
www.reengage.org.uk/volunteer/map/
There may well be Xmas meals being put on for people who would be alone - they are often desperate for volunteers who can drive to go and pick up and drop off guests

Local groups/churches/day centres etc might also be putting on meals of their own.

PlinkPlink · 13/12/2019 10:50

I second the church idea.

Our Methodist church does a Christmas dinner for elderly/those who don't have family.

It's a very lovely thing to do at Christmas. Lovely that you're willing to give your time.

MsMellivora · 13/12/2019 11:08

My friend is helping cook Christmas dinner at her church but she has done lots of catering in that kitchen over donkeys years. Same for me though my church is not having anything this year as it’s been agreed that her church will cover the town.

justmyview · 13/12/2019 11:16

The problem with people volunteering for an organisation one day of the year is that they're untrained so can be more trouble than they're worth

Agree with this. There probably is something you could do, and it's great you're thinking of it, but opportunities will be limited

Ragwort · 13/12/2019 11:19

It may also be a bit late now as most organisations will have arranged their rota. But try a church or local community organisation (you may have to do it the old fashioned way through contacts and telephones, I know our local organisations aren’t very tech savvy so googling doesn’t always work.) Salvation Army might have something going on?

TheOliphantintheRoom · 13/12/2019 11:23

Local animal rescue might appreciate help.

IM0GEN · 13/12/2019 11:25

I work for a homeless organisation and we are inundated with people who want to volunteer for one day a year. While it’s good that people are motivated to help and we appreciate the thought, we simply can’t afford to put all these resources into recruitment and training just for one Or two days.

It costs a lot to do police checks, take up references, conduct interviews. We provide training in first aid, administering CPR, Naloxone, addictions, mental health, suicide, dealing with aggression, working with international guests etc.

We learn about our partner agencies and how we work together, and other services provided, so we can signpost our guests.

That’s probably about 40 hours training. We do this for the safety and welfare of our volunteers and guests. The people who use our services have complex needs and can be challenging to work with. Charities have the same legal duty of care to volunteers as they do paid staff - the Health and safety acts apply to everyone.

So please don’t be offended if your kind offer of help on Christmas Day is declined, it’s not we don’t want you it just we need to think of the bigger picture.

I’m sure there are other charities and organisations who could use help over Christmas , it’s just about matching up your skills and availability with the charity’s needs.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 13/12/2019 12:32

It's pretty late to be considering this for this Christmas, around here slots for Christmas volunteering tend to be gone by February/March. And like others have said; it's often difficult because it's a really oversubscribed day for volunteering. But!

There's some initiatives locally that are on the look out for new people, who do things like walk around cities giving food and blankets the homeless, and they always need help. I'm sure they'd appreciate help at Christmas too, even if it's just to make the round quicker, and it doesn't require training. Things like that could be an option if you can find them near you?

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 13/12/2019 12:56

Your nearest Salvation Army might be running a Christmas lunch. They would probably be grateful for an extra pair of hands washing up and making sandwiches.

FishCanFly · 13/12/2019 13:12

i sometimes do at local church. A dinner for the community.

DarklyDreamingDexter · 13/12/2019 13:22

Never done it myself, but I understand volunteering on Christmas Day is quite popular with some charities. A friend of mine “didn’t get in this year” because it was so oversubscribed in her area.

Gazelda · 13/12/2019 13:28

I agree with previous posters that it costs many charities a lot in terms of £ and time to support new volunteers.
Having said that, volunteers are vital to help charities support the most vulnerable in society. Volunteers are a hidden army of superstars.
Take a look at www.do-it.org. They have a good database of voluntary opportunities which you can filter according to your skills, availability, interests etc.

Sagradafamiliar · 13/12/2019 14:15

Are there any lone elderly people where you live? Families struggling? Maybe you could offer help in the community which doesn't involve organised charities, which aren't local to you.

Sockypuppet · 14/12/2019 06:04

Yes, please decide to volunteer at a less popular time. As the others above, I have worked in charities serving vulnerable people and we'd get inundated with one-day-only volunteers on Christmas. It was an absolute nuisance. Especially as the same people could be bothered with us the rest of the time.

It really makes me angry. Like we were supposed to serve up our clients and disrupt our work to give these randoms a special magical Christmas experience with lashings of gratitude.

speakout · 14/12/2019 06:16

Sockypuppet

I agree.

OP you may find opportunities for your well meaning one off day of help.

You could spend a day doing something else constructive for your community, Set up a just giving page for a local charity or go picking up litter - I have a patch of native woodland near me and I go litter picking there every week.

ButterflyBook · 14/12/2019 06:38

It's what pps have said, if you haven't got your foot in the door of regular volunteering it's difficult to find new people something simple to do on Xmas day without a bit of training or experience.

speakout · 14/12/2019 06:50

OP I know you want to give support- but perhaps you are in need of support ?

IM0GEN · 14/12/2019 10:24

It really makes me angry. Like we were supposed to serve up our clients and disrupt our work to give these randoms a special magical Christmas experience with lashings of gratitude

I feel very differently from @Sockypuppet, though I understand why she might feel that way.

I don’t feel angry at all. I feel pleased that people are thinking of those less fortunate than themselves at Christmas.

I’m glad that people like the OP give a thought to those who are street homeless at Christmas. Because some of the public hate them , think they are violent, mentally ill addicts who have brought all their problems on themselves and should be flung in jail to keep our streets clean.

People like the OP are the ones who give us a tenner donation at Christmas. We just had a collection of socks / underwear / toiletries in a mainline station and members of the public generously gave us enough supplies for 6 months . It was amazing !

That’s people like the OP.

I think that people lead busy lives and perhaps it’s when they have time to stop and think at Christmas that they re evaluate. Deciding to volunteer at Christmas might be the first small stop towards changing things in their own lives.

So I think it’s good and kind thoughts that motivated someone like the OP. I hope she finds the right time and place to volunteer - as PPs have said there are so many opportunities, there’s bound to be one that’s right for you. It just might take a bit of searching or even trial and error to find it.

You might volunteer somewhere and hate it. The team might be unfriendly or the charity disorganised, or you might find that you HATE working with that client group. That just means you have not found your place yet.

However , as I’m sure everyone on the thread can agree , you always get more more back than you ever give. You do it to help others change their lives but you end up helping yourself and changing your own heart and mind.

Wearenotyourkind · 14/12/2019 10:26

Hi OP, we volunteered at a scheme last Christmas for elderly people who would be on their own - a Christmas party at the local hospital. It was bloody brilliant. Probably the best Christmas I've had.