There are countless ways to volunteer in London (you can search through them all here), but while looking for something to do myself, I initially found this huge list a bit overwhelming and it was quite time-consuming to work out exactly what a given charity does, what kind of volunteers they're looking for and how to actually apply.
I've picked out the key details of volunteering opportunities at 4 London-based organisations to help you get a feel for the work involved:
1. The Whitechapel Mission
The Whitechapel Mission has been serving the homeless and marginalised since the 1870's, often seeing as many as 600 people a day.
As well as providing immediate needs (food, shelter, clothing and medical care), the organisation's work addresses needs for life-skills, job-skills training and addiction recovery, helping to make sustainable changes in people's lives.
The organisation operates on a unique 100% donations policy, meaning that every penny of every donation received is used strictly for charitable purposes. If you're just interested in donating, you can do so here.
Here's how to get involved:
- Groups of 4-6 (you can't apply as an individual)
- 8.45am-12.30pm
- Over 150 people a day using the shower facilities on site, and each of them is in need of a change of clothing. This means that there is always a need for clean, used clothing to be sorted, measured and sized and hung, ready to be distributed.
- 1-2 people
- A few hours on a weekday (the centre opens at 9am)
- The Lifeskills Centre is open every weekday and, with the help of volunteers, helps to equip homeless people with the skills needed to sustain a tenancy, employment and integration into the wider community.
'The Breakfast Challenge'
- Groups of 3-4 (you can't apply as an individual)
- 5.45am-10.30am
- As many as 450 people need to be served breakfast every day, including people who haven't eaten since yesterday's breakfast. Throughout the morning, the organisation also distributes essentials like towels, soap, razors, shampoo and toothbrushes.
View all of the volunteering options here.
2. The London Wildlife Trust
The London Wildlife Trust works to protect wildlife across the capital, running 37 nature reserves. You don't have to be an ecology expert to get involved; there are lots of different volunteer roles to suit anyone who wants to get involved, whether regularly or at a one-off event:
Practical conservation (i.e. getting involved in tasks like grassland management)
Outdoor learning (helping to run education sessions for young people)
Wardens (greeting people at visitor centres and answering questions)
Project volunteering (help out with ongoing projects from river restoration to mammal and dragonfly surveys)
They aren't currently recruiting new volunteers because of restrictions, but will be again soon. Learn more here.
3. Volunteer for the Samaritans (new city hub)
The Samaritans is a charity that aims to provide 24-hour emotional support for anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide.
You might know of them because of their telephone helpline (their volunteers run over 200 branches across the UK and Ireland), but they recently opened a new base, London City Hub near London Bridge, which enables a more flexible approach to volunteering. As a listening volunteer, you would be helping the hub to deliver the organisation's new online chat service only.
You don't need any prior relevant experience - the organisation provides full (extensive) training and ongoing support.
4. Volunteer for StreetLink London
StreetLink London enables members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with the local services that can support them through their website, and they rely on volunteers to be able to do this.
London-based outreach teams directly support people sleeping rough by locating them (thanks to the public's alerts), undertaking an assessment with them and helping them to reach the appropriate services.
The organisation is in need of volunteers during the daytime, evenings and on the weekends, so it's a flexible choice.
To get involved, you can email volunteer@streetlink.org.uk to let them know you'd like to volunteer and learn more about the organisation here.
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