Many people will have woken up this morning feeling helpless and hopeless. For reasons that don’t really need explaining.
If you fall into this category, it can be tempting to react by switching off, disengaging, frantically looking at flights out of the country. But this isn’t the only way.
Once the initial blow has worn off and the disappointment has dissipated – it might be more productive to investigate the practical ways you can help the most vulnerable people in society.
Helping feels good, and is more important now than ever before. So when you’re ready to shake off the despondency, take a look at these positive ways you can contribute.
Volunteer at a food bank
There are around 2,000 food banks in the UK and they provide emergency food to people living in poverty.
You can donate to food banks – they are always looking for non-perishable, in-date food, so think tins of beans and tuna and vegetables. But volunteering at a food bank could be even better.
Between April 2018 and May 2019, a record 1.6 million food bank parcels were given out across the UK. The Trussell Trust network has 28,000 volunteers working across its food banks and couldn’t function without their generosity.
Food banks rely on the support of local communities to help end hunger.
Volunteer to help the homeless
According to Crisis, 57,890 households were accepted as homeless in England last year.
As well as the visible homelessness we see everyday, there is also a problem with ‘hidden homelessness’, as many people who are not entitled to help with housing, or who don’t approach their councils for help, aren’t counted in the official statistics.
On average, homeless people die at just 44 years old.
You can help by volunteering at charities – helping to raise money, giving advice on helplines, or whatever transferable skills you have to offer.
Befriend a family
Become a Befriender means you can offer a reliable and supportive relationship for people who would otherwise be socially isolated.
That includes children and young people, families, people with mental ill-health, people with learning disabilities and older people.
Befrienders are carefully matched with disadvantaged families to provide them with practical and emotional support.
You’ll get full training before you start, and it requires weekly two-three hour visits to families, for a minimum of six months.
Become a reading volunteer
If you want to help children to develop their literacy skills and ensure they have better prospects in the future, this is a great scheme.
Bookmark’s specially designed six-week programme offers one-to-one support to an individual child. You can even bring in books from your local library to challenge and inspire your reader.
You’ll help by reading with your allocated kid in 30-minute sessions, twice a week, at a local school.
Help fight loneliness in the elderly
More than two million people in England over the age of 75 live alone. More than a million older people say they go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member.
You can help by providing companionship and conversation just a few hours every week.
Age UK runs some brilliant programmes that encourage older and younger generations to spend time together – because intergenerational friendships are good for everyone.
Inspire a child as a volunteer mentor
The Kids Network runs a structured mentoring programme that supports 8 -11 year olds in London with their social and emotional development before they transition into secondary school.
You’ll hold weekly one on one sessions of one-three hours.
The aim is to build confidence, resilience and help your matched child to manage their feelings through a series of fun and positive experiences and activities.
Volunteer on Christmas Day
This is a particularly tough time of year to be living in poverty, living with illness, or living with loneliness.
Giving up a few hours of your Christmas Day can light up someone else’s life – and you can even make it a family activity.
Volunteer at a soup kitchen, an old people’s home, or simply head out on Christmas morning with warm food and blankets for anyone spending the day on the streets.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/13/seven-practical-things-can-help-vulnerable-people-winter-11880046/
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