Dear volunteer,

It’s that time of year again when we urgently need your help to make the Christmas season special for our clients. The Christmas shelter will be run in St Thomas’ Church this year, and attached are volunteering forms if you think that you could contribute some time to help us run the shelter smoothly and make sure our clients experience some Christmas joy. Also attached are fundraising opportunities to raise money for the shelter and the running of the centre.

The team value all of our volunteer contributions throughout the year, and hope that with your help, we can make this Christmas extra special. Please feel free to pass on the documents to friends or family that you think may be interested, as we can make use of all the help that we get.

On behalf of the Christmas Team,

Gary Welsh

Centre Manager

Lancaster & District Homeless Action Service Ltd

01524 842008

www.ldhas.org.uk

Christmas Shelter Volunteers Preference Form

Contact Details

Name: Address:

Tel. No: Postcode:

Email Address:

When can you volunteer?

Please mark the relevant boxes to indicate the days and times you are available to volunteer. The centre will be open to clients from 8pm on Christmas Eve until after lunch on the 29th December. Shaded boxes are for set-up or shut-down only, but we need volunteers for this as well! Crosses in boxes are times we do not need volunteers.

Remember; don’t forget to include your contact details so that we can keep you updated!

Time / Wednesday
24 Dec / Thursday
25 Dec / Friday
26 Dec / Saturday
27 Dec / Sunday
28 Dec / Monday
29 Dec
7am-12noon
12 noon-4pm
4pm-8pm
8pm-12 midnight
12 midnight-7am / X / X / X / X / X

What are your preferred role(s)? Please tick:

Shelter set up/close down:
Unpacking/packing food and bedding supplies
Organising sleeping area and kitchen
General clean/tidy
Cook:
Prepare and cook food
Kitchen Preparation:
Prepare food for next day
Clean kitchen
Client Support/Socialising/Activities:
‘Meet and Greet’ clients, make them feel welcome
Initiate/Take part in activities – tv, dvds and boardgames will be available
Experienced volunteer ‘mentor’:
Get to know the clients/provide emotional support

Name:

To ensure that the Christmas Shelter is a success we have a number of training opportunities for you. Please tick the boxes to indicate the training sessions and the induction session that you wish to attend; places on some courses will be limited – so do please return this completed form to us ASAP:

Training sessions
At Edward Street Centre / Date / Tick to attend
First Aid
Donna Wren / Monday 15th December
7.00-9.00pm
Conflict & Aggression
TBC / Tuesday 16th December
7.00-9.00pm
Food Hygiene
Gabriella Bavone / Wednesday 17th December
7.00-8.00pm
Drug/Alcohol Awareness
Gary Welsh / Wednesday 17th December
8.00-9.00pm
Induction sessions
At Edward Street Centre / Date / Tick to attend
Volunteer induction
Christmas Team / Wednesday 3rd December
7pm – 9pm

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you soon, to share our vision and to prepare you all, as best as possible, for our mission together at the Christmas Night Shelter

The Christmas Team

Please return to:

Lancaster & District Homeless Action Service Ltd

Edward Street, Lancaster, LA1 1QH; Tel: 01524 842008