JVN Blog

JVN’s new employee volunteering scheme, Embrace, is in full swing, with a brand new website and more and more businesses and charitiesbecoming involved. This week, the JVN team decided to put our money where our mouth is and embark on some employee volunteering of our own with GIFT. Meeting at the GIFT warehouse on Tuesday evening we helped with packing boxes with cereal, tins, Shabbat candles and other essential items that will be distributed to families in need in the community.

The JVN team and members of the Ad Hoc Volunteering Squad in action at GIFT.

GIFT runs regular packing sessions every week, along with other programmes to help these people. If you think you could help in any way, please do get in touch with GIFT and make a real difference to people who really need your help in the Jewish community.

The JVN team were assisted on Tuesday at GIFT by members of our brand new Ad Hoc Volunteering Squad. We need people who would like to volunteer at potentially short notice when someone is in need of an extra pair of hands. We will be in contact with you as far in advance as possible, and you are free to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to anything we ask. It’s that simple – we just need people with a willingness to help out when called upon. If you think you could be a valuable member of the JVN Ad Hoc Volunteering Squad, please get in touch with Lia by e-mail or call her on 020 8203 6427.If you have some spare time over the festive period but do not want to commit to being called upon on a more regular basis, there are still some charities which may have spaces left for people to volunteer. Most are particularly in need of people on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. If you are available over the next couple of weeks, please take a look at the following list of opportunities and use the contact details provided to get involved.

Friday 21st – Monday 24th December: St Luke’s Hospice are looking for people to wrap gifts in St. Ann’s and St.George’s Shopping Centres in Harrow. Contact Chris Harris.

Sunday 23rd – Sunday 30th December: Crisis at Christmas are looking for people with various skills to help at their homeless centres. Contact them by e-mail or call 0300 636 1000, or visit their website for more information.

Sunday 23rd December – Tuesday 1st January: Tikun are running their annual Light Up A Life campaign. You can view the wide variety of volunteering roles on offer here, or you can e-mail them or call 020 8912 1213 for more information.

Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th December: The Salvation Army are seeking people to help prepare meals, particularly at their centres in Chelsea, Hoxton and Southwark. They would also like people to wrap and deliver gifts at other times. Contact Rebecca or Jennifer by e-mail or by calling 020 7378 1021 and quote “JVN”.

Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th December and Tuesday 1st January: Watford New Hope Trust require volunteers to help prepare and serve dinners to homless people. Contact Rebecca by e-mail or by calling 01923 227 132, or visit their website for more information.

Various times: René Cassin are looking for people to offer their help with various odd jobs to do with the general running of the charity in West Hampstead. To find out what is on offer, contact Simone or Shanua, or visit their website for more information.

And don’t forget to visit the JVN website, call 020 8203 6427 or e-mail us to find volunteering opportunities to suit you all year round. Please also forward this blog to your friends.