Sunday 05-12-2021 - 09:00

It’s that time of year again - the festive season is upon us! There’s a crisp chill in the air, party plans are being made, and there’s twinkly lights everywhere. In the midst of all the holly jolly festivities, we can forget that for some people, the holidays are an incredibly difficult time. It’s important to remember that a little bit of kindness can go a long way during this season when the most vulnerable members of our lovely Bristol community feel most isolated or in need. We want to do all we can to help so here are a few ways you can get involved in spreading kindness and generosity across Bristol this holiday season!  

Caring in Bristol 

Caring in Bristol works across the city to bring hope, home and community to those experiencing homelessness. Their Caring at Christmas project is the South-West's biggest Christmas homelessness project. This year they will be running a day centre as well as delivering hot meals, hampers and festive cheer to doorsteps and they need volunteers like you to help make it happen.  

Cards for Good Causes  

Cards for Good Causes is a charity supporting more than 250 local and national charities by selling Christmas cards through their pop-up shops and online. So many of the charities they support have suffered financially due to COVID, so this year is more important than ever!  

PHAB Christmas Party  

PHAB is one of Bristol SU’s amazing student-led volunteering projects. The group aims to make a more inclusive community by bringing disabled and non-disabled young people to enjoy themselves on an equal basis. They’re hosting a Christmas party on Thursday 16th December at 7.30pm so why not go along and spread some festive cheer?   

Aid Box Community Refutrees Volunteers 

Aid Box Community are a Bristol based charity who provide sanctuary, support and supplies to refugees and asylum seekers in need in Bristol. Every year they open a pop-up Christmas shop selling everything from fairy lights to Christmas trees in order to raise money for the amazing work they do. They are looking for volunteers to help keep the shop running from 27th November – 22nd December.  

Lend an Elfing Hand with the British Heart Foundation 

The British Heart Foundation aim to beat heartbreak forever and create a world in which people do not die prematurely or suffer from heart and circulatory diseases. They are looking for festive volunteers who can lend a helping hand in their furniture charity shop in Kingswood over the holiday season.   

Julian Trust Night Shelter  

Nightshelter is another of Bristol SU’s excellent student-led volunteering projects. The group supports the Julian Trust Night Shelter, which provides warm clothing, accommodation and hot meals to keep people warm over the winter. There’s plenty of ways you can get involved, whether that’s donating clothes, food or a bit of your time.  

Sanctuary Scholars Shop 

Looking for the perfect Secret Santa gift? The Sanctuary Scholars Shop has got you covered. Buy one of their artfully designed T-shirts or a pair of their beautifully handmade jewellery, and you’ll be supporting students from refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, with all proceeds going towards the Sanctuary Scholars Legal Fund.  

Donate to a Local Foodbank 

People across the UK are facing impossible decisions this winter, having to choose between staying warm or buying food. Food insecurity affects millions of people across the UK, not just the homeless. Foodbanks provide emergency food parcels for those in need because no one should have to go hungry. Why not get some friends together and collect a box of food donations and drop it off at one of the foodbanks across the city?  

RAG Christmas Shoebox Appeal 

RAG are supporting one of their partner charities, Helping Bristol’s Homeless this holiday season by collecting Christmas shoeboxes. This is a really simple way to make a huge difference to someone experiencing homelessness this winter: gift wrap a shoebox and fill it with items such as a warm hat, toiletries, handwarmers and supermarket vouchers. Check out RAG’s Facebook page for more details. 

--- 

If hearing about all the ways you can be part of helping the local Bristol community has left you feeling inspired, why not make volunteering your new year's resolution? Bristol SU has 12 amazing student-led volunteering projects, as well as hundreds of organisations advertising volunteering roles on our website, and one-off volunteering opportunities that happen throughout the year. There’s something for everyone so why not see how you can get involved?