Christmas Volunteering in London: Where and How to Help

Christmas is the most popular time of year for volunteering, so why not grab that festive spirit and give back and help out those people in need.

By Jayne Lambert | Updated Nov 1 2024

For many of us Christmas is a busy and exciting time full of joy, laughter, family and gift giving. For others it is an especially hard time, as they are left cold, hungry, lonely or otherwise in need. 

While there are many great things to do in London this Christmas, you might consider volunteering to help those in need. Many charities rely on the help of volunteers all year round, but need them more than ever at Christmas. If you can give the gift of your time, attention and effort this Christmas and you feel like giving, there are some great initiatives and organisations to get involved in:

Shelter’s Winter Walk for Home

3rd December at 5.15pm, 6pm, 6.45pm and 7.30pm | The Steel Yard, Allhallows Lane, City of London EC4R 3UL

Shelter is the UK’s biggest charity dedicated helping the homeless and ultimately ending homelessness; 

To raise money for Shelter, you can join thousands of volunteers on a sponsored walk through the winter cold; you can take a 10k or a 5k walk along a lovely route that takes in many central London landmarks. You’ll get a free bobble hat to wear and all the resources you need to start fundraising.Last years walkers said that they loved “The sense of community, the upbeat and happy atmosphere, the fact it took place just before Christmas when all the lights were on, and the friendliness of all the support staff."

Volunteer for Shelter this Christmas - you can either take part in the Walk for Home, or organise your own sponsored walk.

Be a Christmas Call Companion with Re-engage

Re-enage is a charity aiming to ‘reduce loneliness in later life’, committed to making sure that elderly people vulnerable to isolation and loneliness feel seen, heard, engaged and empowered. They hold regular Activity Groups and Tea Parties for people aged 75 and over who may benefit from getting out of the house, meeting others and talking together.

If you are able, many of these events need volunteers to help out at Tea Parties and/or lunches, or to chauffeur those involved to and from their homes. However, one way that almost anyone can help is to become a Christmas Call Volunteer and make weekly phone calls to someone who might really benefit from having someone to talk to. 

Apply to volunteer as a Christmas Call Companion with Re-engage

Crisis at Christmas

Crisis does fantastic work all year round to alleviate the pressures of homelessness and, every December, Crisis at Christmas enlists over 10,000 volunteers all over the country in one of the most rewarding opportunities to help others during the festive season, giving homeless people a chance to gett off the streets, have a hot shower, receive a professional health check and enjoy a hot and healthy Christmas dinner in the company of others.

You don't need any particular skills or experience; training is provided and there are a range of roles to suit most people, from in-person positions in hotels and call centres to remote roles on well-being calls and more. 

Get involved with Crisis at Christmas

Basket Brigade UK

Basket Brigade UK brings hundreds of volunteers together on 23rd December to pack and deliver food hampers to families in Britain struggling to put food on the table over Christmas. 

Each year they recruit hundreds of volunteers to be either an Elf, a Reindeer or a Santa’s Sleigh;

Volunteer at this charitable event in a group with friends or family, and bring the kids along to help pack the Christmas hampers and teach them the value of helping people less fortunate than themselves. 

Elves attend the event on the 23rd December and help to make baskets which will go out to families, but they don't deliver the baskets.

Reindeer attend and make baskets, and then deliver them to families.

Santas Sleighs do not attend the event or make any baskets, but so deliver ready-made baskets to families. 

Register to take part with Basket Brigade

Shoebox Appeal

Who would have thought that filling a shoebox with some simple things could bring joy to children on the other side of the world?  

Operation Christmas Child is an initiative run by Christian charity The Samaritans Purse, which partners with organisation throughout the world to bring help and hope to those who need it most. They connect volunteers and supporters within their communities to pack, send and distribute shoeboxes full of goodies to children less fortunate at Christmas time. 

So go on…dig out that old shoe box today and get packing - here’s how to get started.

Other Christmas Fundraising Opportunities

There are many other organisations that run special fundraising events throughout the winter months and need seasonal volunteers to get involved. 

You could help by collecting for homeless charities, children’s charities, help the aged charities or any charity of your choice, there are bound to be opportunities to volunteer and help raise money for charity this Christmas near you! 

Do-It.Life is essentially a charity search engine that allows charities to advertise for positions they need, and helpful heroes to find them - all for free. To check out what opportunities there are to make a difference somewhere near you, visit Do-it.Life