Homeless and hunger relief charities work tirelessly to improve the lives of those living without basic human necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter.
People find themselves homeless and/or hungry for countless reasons and, in these situations, it’s often only the kindness of others that gets people through.
If you’re passionate about helping those less fortunate, there are several ways that you can volunteer your time. From helping at a local soup kitchen to becoming a mentor, here are some ways you can get involved with homeless and hunger relief charities.
If you have a professional background in a healthcare field (such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, or even in beauty therapy), why not volunteer to offer health advice and basic treatment to the homeless through charities such as Crisis?
Crisis runs schemes at certain times of year, for example during the Christmas period, where they welcome homeless people into their centres and offer a range of free services to help set them up for the year ahead. Hours and commitment for roles such as these are usually variable and can be discussed with the charity.
To learn more about this scheme, why not read our article; What’s it like to volunteer for Crisis at Christmas? Or, use the button below to head to the Crisis website.
Mentoring roles usually require you to commit to at least a few hours, or one day a week, over a longer period. You’ll work with homeless people through charities like Shelter or Centre Point to provide emotional and practical support in areas such as housing, finance, and debt intervention.
The aim of this role is to help homeless people re-enter society – this is a powerful opportunity, which can help to restore people’s lives and help them thrive.
The cost of living crisis has led to an increase in the demand for food distribution volunteers who help to provide people with an affordable way to access food.
Volunteers help out at food banks or other organisations to collect food donations, store them safely, and distribute them to those in need – either at a designated centre or by dropping off food parcels. The food is provided free or at a low cost.
One example of an organisation is FOOD Club, which was launched by Family Action to help provide for struggling families and reduce food waste.
Volunteering at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter is a straightforward practical role that’ll make a huge difference to the homeless and hungry. You’ll be cooking, preparing, and serving food to individuals who may not have had a proper meal in days.
Soup kitchens are charity-run, set up, and coordinated by passionate people who care about providing people’s basic right to food. The People’s Kitchen, which was founded by 70-year-old Alison Kay after she was particularly moved by the death of a homeless man, is one example. Kay now regularly recruits volunteers to join her on her mission.
If you’re passionate about overcoming the issue of homelessness in the UK, but are worried you don’t have time to volunteer, there are other ways you can help.
Fundraising can be a good way to make a real difference to a charity without signing up for a long-term volunteering commitment.
There are countless ways to begin fundraising, with people doing everything from hosting a bake sale or completing a sponsored walk to organising a party or even doing a skydive. For plenty more ideas, check out Easyfundraising’s list of 130 fundraising ideas that work.
What you choose to do to raise money for your chosen charity is up to you, but you’ll need to promote your charitable activity to reach as many people who might be willing to donate as possible.
And, of course, one of the easiest and most beneficial ways that you can improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness or hunger is to donate money to a charity. Without donations, most charities wouldn’t exist or be able to continue their work, so it makes all the difference and can help change lives.
You can donate online to any of the charities mentioned in this article. St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity is another organisation that’s working to give everyone in the UK a safe place to call home. Through their various grants, funds, and networks, they help those in vulnerable situations find and keep a home, provide emergency financial support, and connect people with skilled staff who can listen, and give advice.
Thanks to donations, St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity’s Frontline Fund has been able to raise over £1.5 million across three years, helping them to support those experiencing homelessness.
You can read about how to maximise the impact of your homeless charity donations on the St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity website.
For more ideas and information, head over to the volunteering section of our website. Here, you’ll be able to browse further volunteering guides, as well as search for volunteering opportunities near you.
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