Crisis

Crisis opens nine temporary shelters for homeless people across London from the 23rd - 30th December each year. They need 6,500 volunteers over these eight days to give at least two 8 hour shifts. You could help prepare food, give health advice or even a hair cut to their temporary residents.

Help the homeless over Christmas

Shelter

Around 90,000 families in Britain will wake up on Christmas morning in a place they can't call home. Shelter is there to give advice and information. Show your support and get into the Christmas spirit by fundraising with some carol singing!

Sing for Shelter

Host UK

Could you welcome an international student into your home for a couple of days over the festive period? You'll meet people who are interested in learning more about British culture, and learn about theirs. As well as making Christmas a bit different for you many of these students would otherwise be spending the festive season stuck in deserted university accommodation.

Invite someone now

Age Concern

Age Concern is looking for seasonal volunteers to take part in befriending schemes and at day centres or events. You could spend time keeping an elderly person company, help them stay active, do their shopping or look after their garden.

Make someone else's Christmas

Festive Spirit

You might not be able to give time over Christmas but there are other ways to spread the festive spirit, here are a few ideas to get you started...

Amnesty International's Greeting Card Campaign

Between 1 November and 31 January Amnesty International asks us to send a card to offer hope to someone in danger or unjustly imprisoned. These cards can also help keep them safe and play a small part in bringing about change.

Send a card

Give Blood

Every day of the year people need blood. It doesn't take long to donate and it's easy to find a session near your home. You never know whose life you might save.

Save lives, give blood

Oxfam Unwrapped

Ethical gifts are a great alternative to the usual haul of stocking fillers. Why not give a gift that will have a positive impact on the lives of those less fortunate? £25 doesn't go very far in the UK but Oxfam can use that to give a family a goat in the developing world.

Give a goat

We Are What We Do

There are lots of small things we can all do to change the world. From recycling your old mobile to checking where all the food for your Christmas dinner comes from We Are What We Do has lots of actions to inspire you. You can track your actions online and even dare others to make a difference too.

Change the world

Fix My Street

Is there something on your street you wish your council would fix? Why not love where you live and report it on Fix my Street.

Fix my Street

Sue Ryder Care

Why not give your unwanted gifts to charity? You can find your nearest Sue Ryder Care shop here and whilst you're there you could make a donation and in return Sue Ryder will dedicate a 'Light of Love' in their window to someone special to you.

Get a light of love

New Year Volunteering

Volunteering isn't just for Christmas! New Year can be a great time to make a longer term commitment to giving your time to something that matters to you.

Leonard Cheshire Disability

As a volunteer with Leonard Cheshire Disability you can really make a difference to the lives of disabled people. There are all sorts of ways to get involved from helping someone get to grips with technology to driving a minibus. Whatever your skills and whether you have a few hours each week or just a couple of hours a month there's something for you.

Support disabled people in the UK

ChildLine

ChildLine urgently need more volunteers to speak to children and young people on their helpline, work with them in schools and to raise funds. Currently, ChildLine can only answer two-thirds of the 2.3 million calls they receive each year.

Hear their voices

Horsesmouth

Horsesmouth is a website dedicated to safe, informal online mentoring, which gives people the chance to share their life experiences to help and support others facing similar choices and challenges. If you'd like to be a mentor but can't get out to meet up with a mentee you can do it online and give your time when and where it's convenient for you.

'Someone knows what you need. Someone needs what you know.'

BTCV

Are you planning on joining a gym to work off your festive excesses? What about trying a Green Gym instead? Environment charity BTCV runs practical conservation activities each week and your 'work out' could be planting a new hedge, cutting back an overgrown path, or helping build a community garden.

Get fit, get green

The Blue Cross

We all know what The Red Cross is but did you know about The Blue Cross, Britain's pet charity? They provide practical care and raise awareness of animal welfare. They need volunteers to speak to school children about the responsiblities of being a pet owner, to care for animals waiting for new homes in adoption centres, to help poorly pets get better and to support bereaved pet owners.

Help them help animals