Volunteers needed for crisis at christmas
Published
15th Oct 2012
by rachael
Hairdressers and beauticians are urgently required to donate their services over the festive period for homeless charity, Crisis at Christmas.
Ten temporary centres will be set up in London over the festive season to provide vulnerable homeless people with hot meals, companionship and essential services including health checks, housing advice and information about training and education.
Hair and beauty experts are being called on to donate their services by washing, cutting, blow-drying and braiding hair for vulnerable adults who are spending their Christmas period alone.
Specifically, Crisis needs hairdressers, barbers and those who can braid hair. Additionally, the charity is looking for volunteers who would be willing to run a salon in one of the centres.
Gin has been volunteering at Crisis at Christmas since 2007 and now volunteers as salon manager at the Stratford Day Centre.
She says: "In spite of coming from a huge and happy family, I was never much of a Christmas person before volunteering with Crisis. Now I look forward to my salon week every year; it's such a pleasure to see the faces of our guests when they have been transformed with a new haircut or even just a hair wash or a manicure."
"Some of our guests haven't been touched for over a year so they appreciate so much the kindness of a volunteer who will hold their hand and carry out a basic hand massage for ten minutes. It's also the opportunity to be listened to in a warm and welcoming environment."
Find out more
Qualifications to volunteer with the salon team are not always necessary, but people who sign up must be enthusiastic and excited by the prospect of providing these very special services to Crisis guests.
Volunteers are able to apply online from 15 October. Further information can be found on the Crisis website or alternatively by calling 0300 636 1000.
Shifts run from 10am to 6pm, starting on the afternoon of Sunday 23 December through to Friday 28 December. Volunteers are asked to sign up for a minimum of two shifts but should contact the Crisis at Christmas team directly if this is not possible.