Hundreds of festivals across the UK cancel due to the current pandemic. But how can festival suppliers utilise their resources to benefit the many organisations battling against COVID-19?
Festival season is over
Festival season this year is more than likely to be completely off, with few festivals still scheduled for late August and September. However, the likelihood of these events going ahead still remains slim. Festivals such as Glastonbury, Parklife, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and many more have been faced cancellation.
These events as you can imagine take months of planning and preparation, with venues, equipment and people to be organised. However, all that seems to have gone to waste, or has it?
Resources are not to be wasted
There is more to a festival than stage lighting and huge stands, but what equipment can actually be utilised from festival suppliers to help charities and local authorities during these unprecedented times? I’m not quite sure we can fight off COVID-19 with strobe lighting alone – although it would be quite a sight.
So what equipment can the NHS and charities make good use of?
You will be pleasantly surprised to hear that there is quite an extensive list: generators, furniture, comms equipment, tents and marquees, outdoor and indoor audio equipment, vehicles, medical equipment, heating equipment and the list goes on. Many festival suppliers even have access to services including security, medical services, traffic management, project management and much more.
What’s happening now?
Organisations which supply such equipment are now re-focusing their efforts. Their efforts are now refocussed on providing available equipment to local councils, charities and helping government initiatives. This supply of equipment to these organisations is desperately required and any organisation that can help should. Not to profit from, which many organisations have fell victim into doing, but to be forthcoming in their ability to help and improve the UK’s current situation.
How TeamKinetic can help
Joining the many organisations aiming to provide a service in which that supports charities, councils and the goverment battling COVID-19. We have further developed our services, incorporating new features purposley build for COVID-19.
Introducing TeamKinetic Advanced – built for COVID-19 designed for you, all freeof charge for three months.
New Community Task Dashboard
Our new fast implementing Community Task Dashboard, allows users to create COVID-19 related tasks quicker and easier.
It couldn’t get any more simple.
CREATE: COVID-19 related tasks
ASSIGN: Volunteers to your created tasks or wait for your volunteers to assign themselves
APPROVE: Volunteer need approval before they have access to tasks details COMPLETE: Wait for the completion of the task
All New COVID-19 Volunteer Application
Volunteers simply sign in to your site on either desktop or smartphone, open the application and apply to the most recent COVID-19 related tasks. With lots of the same safety and safeguarding features that TeamKinetic has always had.
Volunteers can then keep track of their applied tasks in the ‘Tabs’ in the application.
NEW: These are new tasks available for volunteers to help with
APPLIED: Volunteer can see their applied tasks waiting for approval from Admin/Provider
ASSIGNED: Volunteer has been approved, the volunteer can now see more details on the COVID-19 related task. Such as more sensitive information i.e. exact address.
COMPLETED: Once completed tasks appear here for the volunteer’s personal record
Volunteers are cementing their value in society. After the call for NHS volunteer responders was made by the government, five people per second enlisted to volunteer.
Volunteers from across local councils and community groups have not been shying away from COVID-19. In fact, they have more than risen to the occasion, by offering their support to those most vulnerable and keyworkers – despite the increased risk of being exposed to COVID-19 themselves.
The community at the heart
Communities and councils have been working together throughout COVID-19 in order to provide help to those most at risk. Since the start of the virus 2,700 grassroots groups have formed with a total of 2.5 million group members – these figures are increasing daily. Volunteers in the community have signed up to these groups to help deliver food and amenities. Figures like this really show the power of human resilience and determination to make the world a better place even in the darkest of times, which we find ourselves in now.
Find volunteering groups near you
For prospective volunteers who are seeking roles in their local community, it would be well worth your while looking at Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK. This organisation has been responsible for coordinating the many volunteering groups which have risen all across the UK. Their website displays a map which contains various known local volunteering groups. The site also allows you to add your own volunteering group by connecting your own group’s social media channels and website.
Clap for our NHS workers
#ClapForOurCarers was a brilliant community effort from all across the UK. With people showing they’re appreciation for those working non-stop during this pandemic, with masses of applause from balconies, gardens, front doors and windows.
Common uncertainties facing communities
Despite many communities having many enthusiastic volunteers, some uncertainties still lie when volunteering during this pandemic.
Firstly, you can leave your house to volunteer to provide help to those vulnerable, providing volunteering can not be done from home. But if you fall into the high-risk category, being over 70 or having health conditions please try to find volunteering opportunities from home via the computer or telephone.
You haven’t got to be a superhero to help out so don’t be afraid of not knowing what to do at first. But at the same time don’t feel pressured to volunteer, it is optional and you should only volunteer if you want to.
You don’t even have to sign up to anything to be a good person, you could easily keep an eye out in your neighbourhood. Perhaps you know of an elderly person who lives around the corner, it wouldn’t hurt for you to check if they’re ok. Or maybe an NHS worker lives nearby and doesn’t have time to get food in for themselves after work, perhaps you could grab something for them while your shopping yourself? These little things may not seem like traditional volunteering but you are making a difference and having a positive impact on someone else’s life with nothing in return, so maybe you can volunteer without even knowing.
Stay safe, stay positive we can overcome this together
Even if you haven’t seen the lastest news or attempted to buy hand sanitiser recently, you may have noticed a decline in volunteer participation, and that pasta and toilet roll are now worth more than GOLD!
Keeping your volunteers volunteering and coming to sessions can often be challenging. During a virus pandemic, it’s sure to make that job even harder. In this blog Teaminetic aims to give some practical advice to keep your volunteers volunteering.
Reassure
Reassurance will be key. The message to volunteers should be to not panic, that volunteering should be proceeded as normal unless specific advice is received. During this time you may need a higher level of communication between yourself and your volunteers. Clear communication will help to remove the anxiety that volunteers may be feeling, and help you restore confidence through reassurance that you are doing everything possible to reduce risk.
Prepare
Preparation is key, and following a few simple rules will help.
Assuring hand sanitizing stations are filled and available
Surfaces that are regularly used have been cleaned, countertops, doorknobs etc.
Asking politely that anyone who isn’t feeling well to not attend sessions.
Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces like keyboards, remote controls, desks etc can be wiped down by volunteers before each use.
Enable micro-volunteering or volunteering from home.
Notifications
Keep volunteers up to date with the latest news from your organisation, via newsletters, emails, texts and social media channels. A lot can happen in 24 hours as we’ve previously seen. The fluid situation could mean that sessions or events might need to be cancelled at short notice, so try to keep your volunteers informed.
Volunteering from home
There is a high probability that people could be asked to work from home. If, or when, the government issues these measures, perhaps your organisation could adopt virtual or micro-volunteering in order to maintain volunteer involvement.
Micro volunteering involves low commitment action towards a cause. Micro-volunteers can choose how and when they volunteer, providing they have access to the internet via a laptop, tablet smartphone etc.
Micro-volunteering opportunities could involve.
Signing online petitions
Writing blogs
Re-tweeting and posting relevant content on Facebook and Twitter.
Providing feedback on marketing materials.
Creating Facebook Live meetings or Google Hangouts meetings.
Getting creative by generating material for upcoming events.
Micro-volunteering and virtual volunteering will not replace traditional volunteering. However, during COVID-19 it maybe your best option in order to maintain engagement and stay tuned with your volunteers.
In the meantime
What can we all do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
Put used tissues in the bin.
Wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available. Remember to wash your hands for 20 seconds, whilst singing God save the Queen (Other songs are available).
Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Refrain from touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
Stay positive, remain calm and don’t worry, there’s enough toilet roll for everyone…
What positive changes should volunteer managers be anticipating throughout the upcoming year? TeamKinetic aims to explore the changing avenues in which you may find yourself turning down at any given point.
Embracing Technology
This year alone there are predicted to be 51 million smartphone users, who will have access to various apps on their phones. For the volunteer manager, this is brilliant as many volunteer management systems – including our own can operate through an app. Creating more ways in which you can manage and communicate with your volunteers. Which will help your volunteer management run a lot smoother, not just for you but your volunteers as well.
Training
Phone calls and face to face meeting could be starting to become a thing of the past. Many organisations including ourselves are now adopting the use of ‘virtual help’. This being online support which is readily available for all volunteers. Virtual help makes good use of platforms like YouTube, instant messaging and help forms. Which in short saves the volunteer manager time.
Ageing Population
People are living longer and healthier lives, which isn’t a surprise. People are starting to take a lot better care of themselves by feeling more inclined than ever to live healthier active lifestyles.
Therefore volunteer managers should expect a rise in the number of older volunteers with time and energy to volunteer. Perhaps its time volunteer managers shifted perceptions of the ‘old’ volunteer, and started removing aged based limits on volunteering opportunities. Although people aged 65 and over are 45% more likely to volunteer than any other age group, only 6% of those over 65 actually feel old. Meaning older volunteers are more than happy to take part in more physical volunteering opportunities – if given the opportunities to do so.
A common theme that our customer relations team has found here at TeamKinetic is that. The wording of opportunities can often make volunteers not want to join an opportunity. Volunteer managers should try to be mindful when writing volunteering opportunities, as certain words can make opportunities sound more physically tiring, boring or even more complex than they actually are.
Younger Volunteers
There are small indications that the younger generations are starting to volunteer a lot more than they used to. 70% of 18 – 24-year-olds have reported having volunteered at some point in the last year. Recent interviews held by TeamKinetic and student volunteers help support this statistic, as many students did volunteer in some shape or form. Either to improve their academic profile or just because they wanted to give back to their community and have fun. This increase in younger people volunteering only gives volunteer managers more options and opportunities to attract younger volunteers, who are enthusiastic to help and be apart of a volunteering programme.
Volunteer Led Opportunities
Volunteer-led opportunities involve listening and understanding what your volunteers want to do. It’s a growing trend that organisations are listening more to their staff and their customers. It would only be right to suggest that volunteer managers could do the same. A volunteers feedback could pose to be very useful as they are the ones taking part in the opportunities on a regular basis (on the front line as you may say). Suggesting it might be worth allowing volunteers to take lead on some opportunities, as this could be more impactful or at the very least, given the time to suggest new ideas.
A Question of Flexibility
How much flexibility volunteers have is always going to be a changing factor. Pictured above are some of the many reasons why the average person is soo busy. Considering these in modern volunteer management could mean thinking about running more “one-off opportunities”. which are opportunities that don’t happen on a regular basis (perhaps monthly), allowing time for volunteers to adjust their schedules, making it so they don’t have to commit to a specific time frame every week.
For more information on TeamKinetic volunteer management, visit our website or call us on 0161 914 5757.
Student volunteering is increasing with popularity, with more and more students across the UK beginning to volunteer. 57% of students indicated they have volunteered to some extent – and rightly so. Students who volunteered described themselves as being driven, reliable and easy-going, which are all positive attributes to have. However, the other 43% of the students who didn’t volunteer would be more inclined if they didn’t have barriers in their way. Barriers included paid work commitments, the pressure to studying or other curriculum activities.
But could you set these barriers aside by knowing what volunteering could do for you?
Make a change
The reason for any volunteering is to make an improvement to something or give someone else or a group of people additional support. So why not make a small change to your university schedule to make an even bigger change to someone else?
Broaden your horizon
Are you new to the city and the local surrounding areas? Well, volunteering provides the opportunity for you to explore your local area and get out and see places you will have never seen before. When settled in at university, it can become quite easy to get wrapped up in your own smaller surrounding. The local tavern, the students union, and your living accommodation. Making it very easy for you to forget that other people and places exist outside of your university bubble.
Make use of your spare time
Everyone needs downtime but how productive are your downtimes? Most of us have more than enough free time, we just spend it badly! On average a student has about six hours free time a day, depending on your course, which is an awful lot of time. The problem is we’re not thoughtful enough of what we do in our free time. Making more active and intentional use of our hours would make them count for more. Perhaps volunteering could help you fill one or two hours, out of the six you have free.
Boost your mental well-bing
The giant leap from college to university can prove mentally challenging for the many. The anxieties of being in a new city or country with not knowing anyone or knowing what to expect can be very daunting. Volunteering can help with these anxieties and place you in a better headspace.
The feeling of knowing you’re doing something valuable to release the burden from others doesn’t only show that you care. But should also make you feel pretty good about yourself too! Positive actions make a sound mind.
Raise your online presence
If you’re a student you should be very aware of how important online presence is. Online is now everything in these modern times. Volunteering can help develop your online presence hugely, I would highly recommend building your online presence as soon as possible! LinkedIn is the perfect platform to do this and by volunteering your connections online will only grow.
Remember don’t be shy to share your experiences with the outside world. Transparency is the key to employability, by showing off how amazing you are. You don’t always need to be modest.
TeamKinetic Volunteer Management System
Read more student and university-related blogs below.
Before I arrived at university, I had no idea just how much effort it takes to keep a university team running smoothly. From taking care of players’ wellbeing to ensuring the club is financially stable. It’s clear to see how much effort these students put into the clubs they’re a part of.
To keep playing their favourite sports, a select group of students from each sports team have to step up and take on a vital senior role within the club. I’d like to take a look at one club in particular.
The Manchester Metropolitan University Women’s Football team have been my favourite group of people since I started university. Now I’m on placement, I thought it’d be great to bring attention to the work they do day in, day out.
From managing club funds to organising social events, every member of a sports team’s committee is important.
One of our many nights out… Guess the theme?
The MMUWFC 1st Team
But first… What does it mean to take on one of these roles?
The different roles that students on the team can volunteer for include: – Social Secretary: ensure that the club has plenty of social activities that appeal to all members and allow everyone to get to know each other in a welcoming and friendly environment. – Treasurer: oversees financial aspects of the club. They will work with other members of the committee to plan which events and activities the club can afford to carry out. – Publicity Secretary: ensure that the club has a strong social media presence and content to keep current members engaged and attract new members. – Vice Chair/Chair: the chair is responsible for overseeing the committee and club activity/direction. They provide support and guidance to other committee and club members. The vice chair will assist them in all matters (see our interview with Charley below for more).
These roles may vary between teams/universities but are vital to keep the clubs running smoothly. Taking on one of these roles requires some work. Despite this, it can make for a great addition to any CV and the skills you learn along the way are invaluable!
I spoke to Charley Parkin, the Vice Chair of MMU Women’s Football and Captain of the 1st Team…
What kind of work do you do for the MMU Women’s Football Team?
“I mainly just oversee things on the admin side and help Crystal (The Chair) with anything she needs. Basically making sure things go smoothly. As first team captain I have to organise teams, transport to fixtures, etc. and make sure everyone is having a good time.”
Why did you want to volunteer to be on the committee?
“I wanted to volunteer to be on the committee because I did it last year as Social Sec and really enjoyed it. Plus, having been at uni three years I feel like I am in a good position to help and advise first years with any issues they have and almost act as a role model.”
Do you enjoy your role?
“I enjoy being involved with decisions made about the club and the fact we can influence things for the better and make not just people’s women’s football experience but university experience better as a whole.”
So how do I get involved?
MMU Women’s Football isn’t the only team out there that relies on volunteers! Chances are every sports club at any given university does. This may seem like hard work for anyone who takes up one of these senior roles, but the rewards are great. You’ll have leadership experience and a range of skills that you can’t find anywhere else – who wouldn’t want that on their CV?!
There are a few different ways you can get involved:
Check your university’s volunteering page,
Get in contact with your student union,
Just go and talk to the current chair of the club you want to volunteer for!
Tip: It’s usually best to go for these roles after the current sporting season has finished and before the next one starts.
Recently TeamKinetic spoke with one of our current University clients, The University of Manchester. We had the chance to speak with Ellen Stephenson who works in sports development. The university has been using TeamKinetic to manage their student volunteers for a number of years now, having developed a good relationship with the university we thought it was only right to get some honest feedback about our system.
Ellen over to you…
What is your role at The University of Manchester?
Sport Development Coordinator – Employability and Workforce.
Why did you start looking for volunteer management software?
We were using an old system called Coachweb and as part of a Manchester volunteering group recommendation, we were all advised to move to TeamKinetic.
How did you come across TeamKinetic?
My colleague knew Chris Martin and was introduced to the Manchester volunteering group.
How was the implementation process of TeamKinetic?
It was not too painful. Moving to a system which would make life easier in the long run always gives you hope. We had a lot of support from the development team and the support of a TeamKinetic FaceBook users group which had regular meetups to share ideas, see new features and ask questions.
Does TeamKinetic meet the needs of the universities sports department?
Yes! For volunteering at our sports department it really works.
How do students find using the software?
When I have explained how to use the software generally most students are happy and confident enough to use the system.
Are the staff at TeamKinetic helpful and happy to help, can you recall any experiences?
The team are very happy, friendly and helpful and we have a good rapport because we have known some of the team members for such a long time. If I need a quick answer I would not hesitate to pick up the phone, but I do try to use the online help for technical issues.
Would you recommend other universities to get in touch with the TeamKinetic and why?
I would recommend that universities do make contact with TeamKinetic and enquire how the software can be used to fit them, it’s been very beneficial over the years. Maybe it can be beneficial to others.
We’d like to thank Ellen for her answer and her time. It’s greatly appreciated.
For any University or any organisation for that matter interested in learning more about volunteer management software, visit our website or call us on 0161 914 5757. We are always happy for any inquiries and any information we can possibly give.
In 2016, more than 725,000 students volunteered. This may seem like a big number, but it was actually only around 31% of the total student population. We think it can be much higher. The benefits of volunteering are massive. From improving students’ confidence to making a difference in the local community, volunteering can be a valuable activity for any organisation to place emphasis on. As a result, we believe that every university should have volunteer management software.
There are many different types of volunteering for your students to get involved with. Popular uses of volunteer management software for universities often relate to careers, student placement services, the student union, and sport. Sport is a popular area here at TeamKinetic; Cardiff Metropolitan, Nottingham, and Manchester Metropolitan are just some of the many academic institutions already using our system for their student volunteers.
Why not take a look at one of those websites to get a better idea of how our systems work?
It appears that people are getting involved in volunteering from a younger age. 70% of 18–24-year-olds reported volunteering at some point. This age range probably accounts for the vast majority of university students, so why not support them by giving them a better system to volunteer through? Why not take the plunge and get volunteer management software?
(Figures from NCVO’s Time Well Spent report, you can view the report here.)
So… why should you use volunteer management software?
With UK plans to double the percentage of students who study, work or volunteer as part of their degree by 2020, investing in a good volunteer management system now would be beneficial to any university.
Universities making an appropriate investment in high quality provision of student volunteering, they not only support students and their communities, but they can derive benefits aligned with their strategic plan and improve the value added to students beyond their studies.
Volunteer management software has a range of features that you can put to good use!
Any good volunteer management system will save you massive amounts of time. Especially in terms of registering volunteers and making them aware of volunteering opportunities. While also reducing the need for paper-based documents which can make your offices cluttered and disorganised.
Easily creating reports and collecting data on your volunteers is another benefit of volunteer management software. You should have the ability to see how many volunteers are registered to your system, how many opportunities have been advertised, how many hours have been logged, and more. This will also save you bags of time and make data collection more fun than ever! (Might have gone a bit too far with that one… Let’s just say it will make data collection less tedious!)
One increasingly essential aspect of volunteer management is the communication between providers (the university) and volunteers (your students). With volunteer management software, you can easily reach out to your volunteers about, well, anything really. Volunteers can even chat amongst themselves on some systems. This is especially helpful if they’re nervous about volunteering alone or for the first time – something that can be common among students.
While volunteer management software can really help your university, it can also be of substantial benefit to your students. As a student myself, I know I’d much rather sign up to a volunteering system and instantly see all active opportunities than drop someone an email and wait for them to get back to me.
How TeamKinetic can help
As a Manchester-based company, we’re quite pleased about the number of hours logged by our local universities in the North West! Grafters.
We already work with a range of universities across the UK. Our software isn’t all about how many hours have been logged. Yet it’s still nice to take a step back and appreciate all the hours of hard work put in by students over the years! See how many hours have been logged by region to the right… Perhaps your university could help add to these hours!
Specifically, our system has features that will make your life as a volunteer manager easier, while encouraging your students to sign up to volunteer.
Through volunteer grouping, you could sort volunteers by sports club, society, or degree type. This can allow you to invite students to volunteer for things you know they’ll be interested in.
Our reports can help you collate data around: gender, ethnicity, group, as well as the type of opportunities your students are getting involved with most. We can also offer custom reporting services to help you get the most out of our software.
Our achievement levels sort volunteers by how many hours they’ve completed. This can be used by you to offer your students bespoke rewards based on their time spent volunteering. It’s always nice to give back to volunteers, and it keeps them coming back!
Don’t just take our word for it – hear from people who have used the software!
Previous MMU Volunteer Coordinator – Emily Roche
How has the TeamKinetic software helped you manage your volunteers?
“Team Kinetic software has given our volunteering team the ability to oversee the diverse range of volunteering we have going on at the University. We can also now create a Reward and Recognition scheme which covers all of these roles by tracking the number of hours across these voluntary roles.”
What specific features of the TeamKinetic system do you find most useful?
“The most useful feature of Team Kinetic is the fact that it links to other networks in Manchester. This means that students can get involved with a variety of opportunities without us having to go out and search for the right contact for them. We can then also keep track of where this is happening, what students are interested in doing, and contact these organisations ourselves.”
A study by the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagementfound that many students volunteer at festivals to gain skills and/or develop their career prospects. However, a ‘substantial’ selection of universities don’t work with festival organisers to advertise these roles to students. As a result, this should be a key focus for universities to expand their engagement activities for the benefit of their students and the general public.
“I’ve always loved helping people. I’ve been volunteering from a young age back home and received a few awards from it. So I wanted to continue that during my studies. It’s a humbling and rewarding feeling when you volunteer and help others.”
What did you get out of volunteering?
“Besides the benefits of receiving MMU Sport colours and tiered rewards for logging hours, I was able to receive great references for my new job while enhancing my character and views of people.”
Would you recommend volunteering to new/current students? And why?
“Yes definitely! Even if it’s like an hour a week that could help change someone or a charity or a group. There are events that are one time things that are great if you can’t commit to a fixed schedule. You get to meet new people and even sometimes potential companies, depending on your degree and where you volunteer. It’s also a great opportunity to put down on your CV for the future as well.”
Why not give your students the same benefits that MMU and their students, such as Sophia, receive while volunteering at university?
Still need convincing?
Read our other blogs on how we’ve helped universities with their volunteering systems below:
The Christmas holidays are here, children, teenagers and young adults, will all soon be, if not already, happily nestled at home enjoying the Christmas break. Lucky for them, unfortunately, some of us are still at work. But wherever you are this Christmas, home, with friends or at the grandparents, I hope you’re surrounded by people you love at this festive time.
However for some, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year, it’s quite the opposite. Thousands of people across the UK will not have a family to go to this Christmas, or friends to be with or grandparents to eat biscuits with. Which in this country of plenty is tragic, and I believe not fair, because surely everyone deserves to be happy this Christmas.
More than 5% of adults admit to being lonely, women more so than men. According to age UK, 1.7 million older people haven’t met up with a friend or family member in over a month. Many just describe Christmas as ‘just another day’. It’s a time of the year that exacerbates loneliness, so reach out, re-connect, and make someone less lonely this Christmas.
Step aside materialism, Christmas is the season of giving
Share your love
Volunteering this Christmas might just hit the spot for you. The true spirit of Christmas is giving, so why not give your time to help others? Many foodbank providers this Christmas are expecting to be very busy. See Lifeshare, a food bank local to us here in Manchester, helping to give those less fortunate a warm, safe and welcoming environment.
The quickest way to find your nearest foodbank is simple, just conduct a quick Google search I’m sure there will be one near you. As there are 800 more food banks in the country than there are McDonald’s, and I’m sure you know there’s a lot of them!
Reach out to old pals
F R I E N D S do we really need them? YES
Many of us have old friends that have been almost forgotten with time. Well now is the time to reconnect. It’s not uncommon losing touch with friends, as people face many different changes in their lives, career changes, moving to different cities, and new relationships. As we all become consumed by busy lives, close friends soon become distant and the messages become less and less.
So make contact and reconnect, a simple Christmas card, text or email would easily break the silence that should have never been.
Be an open book
Open and free
Try being honest and open about how you are feeling. There are a lot more benefits to being honest and open than there are to being closed off. Honesty attracts honesty. People who are trustworthy and honest attract trustworthy and honest friends. And those are the best friends to have.
Being an open book will allow you to release stress and tension. Keeping your feelings to yourself can reflect negatively on your mind. Talk to those close to you, don’t allow your thoughts to fester it will only make things worse.
So do try not bottling everything up this Christmas be open to everyone and improve your social presence. Enjoy yourself.
Netflix and chill
Such a terrible phrase, I have to admit. However, with the festive season fully locked on our digital platforms, it would not be right to ignore it. Many people help tackle their loneliness by diving deep into a good box set. And I have to agree, box sets are a perfect way to switch off and relax.
A personal touch I’d like to add is a glass of mulled wine and some Camembert, it’s not necessary, but snacks are essential.
Let’s be honest, Christmas time is a mixed bag. Some people love it, some hate it. For some, it’s a time full of family, friends, food, and celebration. For others, it can be stressful or lonely.
Activities and events hosted by volunteers can be essential for many over the holidays. Being surrounded by happiness when your own situation is the opposite can be awful. But these activities give people a much-needed boost.
Now of course, volunteering isn’t just for Christmas. The work of volunteers is essential throughout the whole year. However, we live in a time where it’s been revealed that: – There are around 800 more foodbanks in the UK than McDonald’s branches. – Around four million children are currently living in poverty in the UK. – Almost a million older people feel lonelier at Christmas. – At least 135,000 children will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation across Britain on Christmas day. It’s fair to say that we all need to spread a bit of love and compassion this time of year and beyond.
So… what can you do to help?
If you’re yet to set plans this Christmas, why not check out volunteering opportunities near you? There may be a place offering food to the less fortunate, or a service preventing people from spending the festive period alone.
For students staying in their university’s city over the holidays, volunteering can be a great way to spend free time. It gives you something to do while helping locals and generally improving the community. Check out your university’s volunteering page (they should have one!) for things you can get involved with. Or you can try and find opportunities here.
You could also check out local organisations and clubs, both online and at their offices/HQs. For example, me and Milo went to volunteer at the Liverpool FC Foundation over summer and had a great time. Usually, community-based organisations will have a lot of activities on over the festive period that you can help out with.
In additon, you can help out local charities by acting as a fundraiser for them. People may be strapped for cash around Christmas but will often spare a few pennies for a good cause!
Still stuck for ideas? You could see if Crisis or Shelter have any opportunities near you. They both provide help for homeless people at this critical time of year. By volunteering with organisations like these, you can make a real difference to people experiencing homelessness.
Does it really make a difference?
Short answer: yes. Multiple stories can be seen reported in local media outlets of how volunteers have helped to improve the Christmas period for individuals and groups. One example describes a man who was helped by volunteers and was then inspired to give back to his community.
While volunteering helps others, it can also help you. It has been found to lower stress and increase happiness. A perfect combination just in time for Christmas!
If you need help organising your volunteers over this busy festive period, don’t hesitate to reach out to see how TeamKinetic can help! Give us a call on 0161 914 5757 or visit our website.
