This week is National Volunteering Week, which gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate and thank our volunteers. Our volunteers are truly amazing!
Last year, we had to make an extremely hard decision. At the start of the pandemic, we put a hold on volunteering activities. Our aim was to protect both the people we support, but also to protect our volunteers and staff. We miss our volunteers immensely.
But, we’re hoping to start up volunteering again soon, and can’t wait to see our volunteers! We’ve also got plans for the future, with a new volunteer strategy soon to come into play - watch this space!
This week, we want to focus on our volunteers. We’re going to talk all about what our volunteers do. We’ll hear from some of our volunteers and their experiences at Simon on the Streets. And we’ll talk all about why you should volunteer with us.
What our volunteers do.
We’re a small independent charity, with no government or local authority funding. Our mission is to provide support to people who are homeless and vulnerable across West Yorkshire. Our team of dedicated volunteers donate their time to support our work.
Simon on the Streets volunteers are involved in every aspect of the charity. Some of our volunteers use their unique skills in film or photography. Others help in fundraising, events and outreach.
Fundraising and Events
As an independent charity, we rely heavily on fundraising and events to continue our vital work with the homeless and vulnerable.
Volunteering in fundraising is fun! You get to meet new people and supporters of the charity, see an event come together and help ensure everything runs smoothly and everyone enjoys themselves.
Fabian has been volunteering with Simon on the Streets for over two years. He has assisted at many of our amazing fundraising events, including the Sleep Out and Rough Diamond Ball. Of his experience, he says:
“During my time volunteering it has been a great experience and an honour to represent Simon On The Streets, where I mainly volunteer at their events like the Diamond Ball or Sleep Out. They’ve both been enjoyable and it’s always great to see other people get involved with the charity whether it’s taking part in those events, hosting their own fundraising events or supporting in their own unique way.”
Read more about Fabian's volunteering story.
Outreach
Our volunteers are also an integral part of our weekly evening outreach, offering support to those on the streets. This could be through a chat and an offer of a warm drink, signposting to services or helping someone access emergency accommodation.
Tom has been volunteering with Simon on the Streets for several years. He assists on the weekly outreach across the city, often called the "soup run". On his volunteering, Tom says:
" I have been volunteering…at Simon on the Streets and during this time my views and attitudes towards homelessness have radically changed. The compassion that the team have consistently showed towards those facing incredibly difficult challenges has inspired me to stay and offer my help where possible....listening to the problems of some of the most neglected and vulnerable members of our society is not an easy task, it takes genuine consideration and empathy."
Read more about Tom’s volunteering story.
Why volunteer with us
There’s so many reasons to volunteer with us. Volunteering with Simon on the Streets will give you an insight into the root causes of homelessness in West Yorkshire. You’ll find out all about the work going on to end homelessness. And you'll learn new skills and meet new people.
We also work hard to support our volunteers. A comprehensive training programme is offered to new volunteers and we have training opportunities for all volunteers. We also love giving you an opportunity to use your existing skills and experience to give back.
We’re currently developing our volunteer strategy. We’re looking at expanding our volunteer roles and opportunities. We love our volunteers and can’t wait to see them again. We also can’t wait to welcome new volunteers!
If you’re looking for volunteering opportunities post-covid, we’d love it if you considered volunteering with us. To keep up-to-date with the latest volunteering opportunities, make sure you follow us on social media and sign up to our mailing list.