The season of goodwill is well and truly upon us, and whether your heart is warmed by festive cheer, or all those mulled wines you’ve been having, it’s a time when many people like to think about how they can give back and help those in need.
With the decline in volunteering and donations putting pressure on charities (particularly smaller, local ones), so much so that it has recently been debated in parliament, there is growing concern that many organisations who provide vital support services, particularly at this time of year, will be left out in the cold.
Now, perhaps more than ever, businesses and individuals have a social responsibility to help. In Brighton, homelessness remains a huge issue, with 1 in 83 people reported to be without a home as of December last year, and the number of people accessing food banks each week rising to over 6,400.
How you can help
Volunteering for a local Brighton charity or community can help make a meaningful difference in the community during the holiday season, and it’s easier to get involved than you might think. Brighton is home to many different charities, from those supporting homelessness and food poverty to youth services and elderly care. In short, there’s something for everyone. These charities offer a wide variety of opportunities to give back and create a positive impact – and, when you take away the mince pies, shiny gifts, and hearing Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas,’ for the eight billionth time, isn’t that the very essence of what this giving season is all about?
Lauren Morley works at Seed Marketing Agency in Brighton, and volunteers for the St Peter Brighton’s Safe Haven Women’s Centre on her lunchbreaks once a week. “Working at Safe Haven every week has given me a deeper understanding of how much small gestures can mean to someone struggling or going through a tough time,” she said.
“Every year at Seed we have a Christmas charity activity day, and organising this is something I truly love. This year we’re donating food items and having a morning making Christmas decorations and wrapping presents for the shelter. We’re also asking everyone to donate a scarf to their appeal this year.“
But of course you don’t need to be part of a company to get involved with a charity. We’ve put together some of the best places to volunteer in Brighton and Hove.
1. Brighton & Hove Food Partnership
- Overview: This charity supports people facing food insecurity in the city through community food banks, cooking workshops, and nutrition advice.
- How to get involved: Volunteers can help with food collection, packing, or distributing food to those in need.
- Contact: Visit their website at Brighton & Hove Food Partnership to sign up or donate.
2. Brighton Women’s Centre
- Overview: A vital resource for women in the community, providing support, education, and safe spaces for vulnerable women. They offer crisis support, job training, and emotional wellbeing services.
- How to get involved: The centre looks for individuals as well as corporate partnerships. Volunteers can assist with support work, fundraising, and helping women navigate services.
- Contact: Reach them at Brighton Women’s Centre for more information or volunteering opportunities.
3. The Refugee Buddy Project
- Overview: This charity helps refugees and migrants settle in Brighton & Hove by offering one-on-one support, language lessons, and integration activities.
- How to get involved: Volunteers are needed for language support, buddying up with refugees, or assisting with events and activities.
- Contact: Find out more at Refugee Buddy Project or by contacting them directly via email.
4. Mind in Brighton & Hove
- Overview: Mind offers mental health support services to people facing challenges in their mental wellbeing, providing everything from counselling to advocacy and peer support.
- How to get involved: Christmas can be a stressful and triggering time for some. Volunteers can become peer supporters, help with fundraising efforts, or provide general support in various roles.
- Contact: For more information, visit Mind in Brighton & Hove and explore their volunteering options.
5. The Clock Tower Sanctuary
- Overview: Supporting young homeless people in Brighton, this organisation offers a safe space, food, and advice to help individuals move towards independence.
- How to get involved: Volunteer as a mentor, help with the café service, or assist in running events for fundraising.
- Contact: Learn more by visiting the Clock Tower Sanctuary website.
6. Oxfam shops
- Overview: Oxfam’s charity shops in Brighton & Hove support the global fight against poverty. Volunteering in their shops helps raise funds for Oxfam’s work around the world. In Brighton, shops are calling out for volunteers ahead of the Christmas rush.
- How to get involved: Volunteers can help with sorting donations, running the tills, and organising the store’s layout.
- Contact: Visit Oxfam for more information and how to apply.
7. Sussex Homeless Support
- Overview: A non-profit organisation offering outreach services to homeless individuals, providing food, clothing, and support for finding shelter.
- How to get involved: Volunteers can assist with street outreach programs, food deliveries, and organising fundraising events.
- Contact: Find out more at Sussex Homeless Support.
8. Fare Share
- Overview: Fareshare collects surplus food and then delivers it to charities and community groups who support people in our communities.
- How to get involved. From driving vans to cooking meals, your time can help make a huge difference.
- Contact: You can find all about their volunteering opportunities on their website.
9. Off The Fence
- Overview: Off The Fence operates across three main areas: homelessness, women at risk and schools and youth. They provide long-term solutions, and run two day centres, three outreach vans and six core local schools.
- How to get involved: Off The Fence offers many different ways to volunteer, such as their Christmas Festival and Big Sleep Out.
- Contact: You can discover how to participate in volunteering events here.
10. Rockinghorse
- Overview: Rockinghorse’s work centres on transforming healthcare for Sussex’s youngest patients by providing critical medical resources, innovative healthcare initiatives, and specialised support services that protect and nurture the health of babies, children, and young people across the region.
- How to get involved: They are currently running a Christmas campaign where businesses can sponsor a star, or arrange a present collection so that children spending Christmas in hospital this year don’t miss out on the festive fun!
- Contact: You can find out more about their current campaign here.
We’d also highly recommend checking out The Social Society – a membership club that makes volunteering super-easy. They’re like a fun matchmaking service (with zero ghosting), fixing up people with time and skills to give with local charities who need help, with regular social events an added bonus.
