Christmas ‘Time Giving’

People are sacrificing their traditional Christmas Day as they join others across the UK who are proving this is the season of goodwill by giving up their time to volunteer (2009). For most, Christmas is the time to relax, eat too much, meet up with friends and family and give and receive presents, but Christmas volunteers like to give something back to their community.

Tom Holder is volunteering on Christmas and New Year’s Day with troubled young homeless people at Nightsafe.  Before volunteering through CSV, Tom worked as a part-time driver for the Royal Mail and freelance on video editing and web design. Work started to dry up as the recession took hold, so Tom pursued a long-standing ambition to volunteer full-time through CSV. Speaking about why he chose to take on the challenge of volunteering full-time with CSV, Tom said:

"I find young people full of energy and quite inspiring, but many are in quite a state when they first come to the shelter. Most want to live active and meaningful lives but their lives get de-railed and they need extra support to get back on track. Many of the people who come to the shelter have encountered family breakdown or are picking up the pieces after being affected by alcoholism, drugs or abuse.

"Volunteering on Christmas Day will seem a little strange as it will be the first time I've not spent it with family. But there's good team spirit with the other volunteers and I'm looking forwards to celebrating Christmas with them and those people who turn to Nightsafe for help during the festive season."

Anna Matthews is volunteering at the Nightsafe shelter on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve too.  Anna graduated from Lincoln Bishop Grosseteste University College this year and decided to take a gap year volunteering full time.  Anna has been volunteering with Nightsafe homeless shelter since September and will be continuing her placement throughout the festive period; volunteering on Christmas day and New Year’s Eve.  She says:

“Christmas is a time when many are thinking about presents, a big family dinner and what to watch on telly, but the reality is that beyond the cheesy ads and net curtains there are people with no where to go at Christmas.  Christmas is the season of goodwill and I'm proud to be spending this Christmas doing my bit.  I now know I want a career working with people, ideally within social care.  Something I had not really considered prior to volunteering".

Daniel, from Stoke on Trent, will spend his Christmas Day supporting a student with Muscular Dystrophy on campus at the University of Lancaster.  Daniel left school aged 15 without any GCSEs and little idea of what he wanted to do in life.  He describes himself as being a little ‘off the rails’ at the time.  Prior to volunteering he felt he was heading no where career wise and had ruined his chances of a good education.

Daniel found CSV’s website and decided to apply for full time volunteering.  He was accepted and trained and then placed as a volunteer carer.

“The student I volunteer for had a difficult time growing up but with a lot of determination he has got into university and I am proud to give him the assistance he needs to play an active part in student life.  In the few weeks I’ve known him there’s already been a dramatic improvement.  He is coming out of his shell, building confidence and confiding in me and the other volunteers more.  With our support and his education, Ray is gaining more independence and moving closer to his goal of becoming a lecturer.

“He used to spend a lot of time on his own, but now we’ll take him out to help him meet more people.  It’s a great experience for me to see what university life is like too and I’m more determined than ever to be a student myself one day.  Ray is a true inspiration; I see him as a friend now and have really enjoyed getting to know him. 

“It’s strange now to think I never thought of doing this kind of work before as it has come very naturally to me.  I’m excited to see what the rest of the year brings and more enthusiastic than ever to fulfil my dreams”.

For further press information:
Melissa Goss 020 7812 0037 | 07725 80 80 52 | mgoss@csv.org.uk
Jason Tanner 020 7812 0038 | jtanner@csv.org.uk

Notes for Editors

CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Last year 167,064 people gave their time as volunteers through CSV. The charity trained 12,196 people of all ages