Christmas in London

Volunteer at a

We all know that London is a great city, whether you live here, are a visitor or student. What a lot of people don’t know is how great it is to spend Christmas here in London.

One of the many wonderful things about London is that you can become a Londoner wherever you’re from originally. You could be from another part of the UK or the other side of the world, but once you’ve decided to make London your home that’s it – you are officially a Londoner.

And it’s at this time of year that you start to get an idea of how many people aren’t actually born and bred Londoners – because so many people leave at this time.

London is all yours for Christmas

For one week only, somewhere between 22 December and 30 December, London practically empties. Tens of thousands of Londoners head back to where they originally came from to be with family and friends for the festive season.

This is a great time for those with family in London, or those with commitments that keep in London for the last week of December. And increasingly, there are those that have just decided to stay in the city and enjoy this time with their friends.

If you travel on the tube you’re guaranteed a seat, if you go to your local pub you’ll be welcomed like a real local and you may even get a nod of acknowledgement from other Londoners as you walk around town.

The downside may be that many places shut for this period too. A lot of bars and restaurants are closed in the week between Christmas Day and New Years Eve as most of their customers have left, but those that do stay open tend to be very welcoming – and have tables available without booking in advance.

Help out at a London charity at Christmas

But then, Christmas in London isn’t all about restaurants, bars  shopping and eating . It’s also provides an opportunity to give something back and volunteering at a homeless shelter is one of the best and most popular activities for those that stay in London.

The housing and homelessness charity Crisis opens Christmas centres across London from 22-30 December that offer vital companionship, hot meals and warmth, and a wide range of essential services that homeless people often miss out on.

What volunteers can do

There are lots of options for  charity volunteers :

• General volunteers welcome guests, serve food, sort bedding or just make sure things go to plan
• Logistics volunteers co-ordinate food deliveries, volunteer as drivers or navigators and input data
• Service volunteers give guests access to services they usually miss out on. Crisis are looking for medical professionals, advice practitioners, hairdressers, alternative therapists, caterers, dog handlers and many more
• Activities and entertainment volunteers such as performers, musicians, magicians and sports trainers to help to inspire and entertain guests at the centres

The centres are open from  22-30 December. Volunteers are asked to sign up to a minimum of two shifts on two separate days and are welcome to apply for more should they wish.

How to volunteer at Crisis

You can  find out more about what Crisis do at Christmas on their website and to apply online at the Crisis website or telephone 0300 636 1000. 

International House Trust and Crisis 

Crisis have education, training and employment centres, called Skylight centres, across the UK. International House Trust have partnered with Crisis Skylight in London by offering intensive International English Language Testing System (IELTS) programmes to Skylight members.