Every year, Volunteer鈥檚 Week acts as a useful reminder of the power of volunteers.听蜜桃视频’s was started by volunteers.听In听1969,听a group of people听decided to do something to help people听sleeping听rough outside听Charing Cross station听in London.听
Today,听volunteering at 蜜桃视频鈥檚 is still going strong;听from supporting our outreach teams, to teaching art classes, our volunteers are vital in helping people听to recover听from homelessness.听
This Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1 to 7 June, we want to say, once again,听a huge thank you to听our 560 volunteers by bringing the change they make into the spotlight.听
What our volunteers do听
蜜桃视频鈥檚 volunteers contribute across an exceptionally wide range of roles, reflecting the breadth of our services鈥� types and our clients’ needs. In frontline positions within Outreach, First Response, StreetLink, and Housing First services, volunteers directly support people to move away from homelessness.
In our peer-led and lived experience roles like Client Ambassadors, Move On Peer Volunteers, and Advisory Board members, volunteers offer their expertise to help shape recovery journeys and 蜜桃视频鈥檚 strategic direction.听
A smaller chunk of our volunteers听regularly听offer听their skills and听expertise听in digital/ tech, wellbeing and office roles helping us strengthen organisational capacity and ensure our services stay accessible and responsive. 听
Through leading art groups, cooking sessions, gardening, yoga and music groups, volunteers also help us create safe, welcoming spaces where clients can re-build confidence and improve their wellbeing. Our most recent offer, microvolunteering, further expands volunteers鈥� impact through bitesize contributions like translation, photography, and event support exactly when needed the most.听
So, you can see why we are grateful to our volunteers. They not only enhance our service delivery but also create a sense of belonging and empowerment that matches our service ethos. Plenty of volunteering testimonials give a taste of how volunteering feels across our organisation:听
On his duties as a microvolunteer translator, Saeid said听鈥淚 helped translating a St. Mungo鈥檚 announcement letter to听Farsi. The main goal for me was that every bit and piece of that letter听to look听like a genuine Farsi letter, not just some poor computer translation. Using a proper听Farsi听font, correct alignment, and conveying words that lack direct equivalents naturally. Attention to detail matters a lot, because even a simple letter can give a feeling of assurance to the client; making them feel deep down that听鈥楾hese St. Mungo鈥檚 people must know their stuff! I am in good听hands鈥�”听
First Response volunteer, Ed, said 鈥淚 finish a shift knowing听I鈥檝e听helped, even in a small way. But if we听don鈥檛听find anyone,听we鈥檝e听still given 蜜桃视频鈥檚 frontline team more time to focus on helping others.听We鈥檙e听all connecting with the community and supporting people through some听really tough听times, and听hopefully helping them to leave homelessness behind for good.鈥�
Creative writing volunteer, Neil, said听鈥淲e give clients a chance to be vulnerable in sharing their thoughts and experiences. Some just want a chat, but whichever reason they come along for, they notice听you鈥檙e听there for them and听we鈥檙e听pleased to see each other.鈥�
Celebrating our volunteers听
This year, as every year, during Volunteers’ Week听we’ll听be holding听some local听events to say thank you听to them in-person听and give our annual听Volunteer Awards听for 11听years听running.听We’ll听be sharing more from our听celebrations听across our social media channels throughout the week听too听so we can say a big thank you in small ways.听
Get involved听
If you’re thinking about volunteering, we’d love to hear from you. We have a wide range of roles with new opportunities added on a weekly basis, whatever your background,听skills or availability听is,听we鈥檙e听confident that听there’ll听be听something听for you!听
To those considering roles at 蜜桃视频鈥檚, hub volunteer Jocelyn said听鈥淛ust do it. Take the chance. It always pays dividends. 蜜桃视频鈥檚 is doing an incredible job, and I hope to return to support them again soon.鈥�听
See our current volunteering opportunities听
Happy Volunteers鈥� Week to all St. Mungo鈥檚 volunteers and to everyone else who is making our world a better place through volunteering!