Volunteer Therapists And Counsellors Needed To Help Homeless People This Christmas, UK

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Mental Health
Article Date: 08 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Therapists and counsellors are urgently needed to volunteer their services and help homeless people in London over the festive season as part of Crisis Christmas, running from Tuesday 23 December - Tuesday 30 December 2008.

Volunteers in the Befriending Service work with the more withdrawn guests at Crisis Christmas, supporting them to access the services on offer in the centres.

Nine temporary centres will be set up in London by Crisis, the national homelessness charity, as part of the Christmas activity. The centres will provide vital companionship and hot meals for homeless and vulnerably housed people as well as essential services like health checks, housing advice, training and further education opportunities.

Staffed by qualified volunteers with a background in therapeutic work, such as counsellors and therapists, the befriending team also works alongside the healthcare team, giving support and providing input in cases involving mental health. If you have relevant skills and experience, please apply to join the befriending team today.

Shifts run from 9am to 6pm starting on Tuesday 23 December through to Monday 29 December. Volunteer befriending staff are encouraged to do at least two shifts.

Nigel Fryatt first volunteered at Crisis Christmas in 2003 and last year he was one of the lead volunteers within the Befriending Service. His first impression of CC was "there was a vibrancy and energy about the place. Everyone pulled together for one aim - to offer the best service for the guests. I was impressed with the wide range of services that were available for the guests. These first impressions have not changed over all the years I have been volunteering."

What keeps Nigel coming back to volunteer each year are the guests. He says "every year we look at how we can improve and adapt the Befriending team to provide the guests the best service possible. It's essential that Crisis continues to raise awareness about the homeless; that they are people, and that they matter. Anyone could easily find themselves in that position."

Leslie Morphy, Crisis CEO, said: "Crisis Christmas would not be possible without the help of the 6,500 volunteers who generously donate their time and skills over the Christmas week. Volunteer therapists and counsellors will play a key part in the process, so if you know anyone with relevant skills and experience, please spread the word! "

To find out more about volunteering, call: 0207 426 3874, email: volunteering@crisis.org.uk or apply online: www.crisis.org.uk/volunteering

Crisis would also like to hear from you, if your publication would like to donate some free advertising space to help recruit volunteers for the Christmas campaign. We do not have a budget but can supply professional, print ready artwork.

Notes

- 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 people to transform their lives. 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.

- Over the past 37 years, Crisis Christmas has evolved to reflect the changing needs of homeless people. As well as providing food, shelter and companionship Crisis offers vital services, engagement activities, learning opportunities, and links people into year-round services. We are not just about soup and blankets!

- The first Crisis Christmas was in 1971 when a group of 20 volunteers used a derelict church in Westminster, London to house and feed homeless people during the Christmas week. Since then an army of over 43,000 volunteers have helped to bring Christmas to homeless and vulnerably housed people. Today Crisis Christmas is the largest volunteer led charity event which takes place across the country at Christmas

http://www.crisis.org.uk