Our Volunteers
Volunteers are women and men who have a heart for the homeless and are willing to give up a few hours a week for some 12 weeks to serve and help our guests. All volunteers must first attend a two hour training session as this ensures continuity and that each evening is run to the same standards and rules.
The early evening shift runs 6.15 pm to 10.30 pm, the over-night shift 10.15pm to 6.30am and the morning shift covers 6.15am until 8.45 am. Amongst our volunteers we seek Team Leaders and Cooks (who must have a current level 2 Food Hygiene certificate) for each venue and they will undergo additional training.
The early evening group welcomes guests, prepares and serve the meal, and sets out the bedding. A small group then stay overnight and the early morning team come in to prepare breakfast, see the guests on their way for the day and tidy up.
Dates and Venues for Volunteer Training Will be Announced Here in Due Course
The Covid-19 pandemic is changing the way we need to do things at Bexley Winter Shelter in 2021. We are working hard to find ways of opening the shelter this winter, but have also been looking at other ways of supporting rough sleepers.
Projections estimate that we may see up to 40 rough sleepers on the streets of Bexley in 2021. As many of those will not meet the priority need criteria on the basis of which the local authority is required to house them, people will remain sleeping rough for varying amounts of time.
You may be aware of the Streetlink app through which you can report someone sleeping rough. We have put together an idea of how some of our volunteers this winter may team together to engage with rough sleepers around the borough. This could include reporting new rough sleepers directly to Thames Reach (the charity which delivers the Streetlink service in Bexley) as well as supporting those who are already known to them. Training will be provided and we will ensure that risk assessments are carried out so that the teams can function in a Covid-safe way.
If You Would Like to Offer Your Time and Commitment
We are currently recruiting Volunteers to start in January. If you would like to help the work of the Shelter in this way, please either fill in the contact form or email: volunteer@bexleywintershelter.org.uk
Still Not Sure if it's for you?
Then why not read here the experiences of some of our Volunteers and what it meant to one of our guests?
Have you professional skills and any time you could offer to our guests? If so, find out here how you could make a big difference.