Catching Lives needs more volunteers to support people homeless in Kent
- Catching Lives
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
This Volunteers’ Week (Monday 2 to Sunday 8 June), Catching Lives is appealing for volunteers after a drop in applications.
Small charities across the UK have been particularly impacted by volunteering dipping to an all-time low due to people’s work commitments and financial instability, according to the Government’s annual Community Life survey.
Rosie Bartlett, Volunteer Coordinator at Catching Lives, said: “We’re incredibly lucky to have kind, dedicated individuals supporting our work and our clients 365 days a year. However, volunteering within the UK is at an all-time low and I've seen a recent decline in volunteer applications.
“At Catching Lives, we rely on volunteers to be able to provide breakfast and lunch 7 days a week so consistent volunteer recruitment and retainment is vital in being able to continue.”
Volunteering roles at Catching Lives include kitchen shifts from 8.30am to 1.30pm and activities support four afternoons a week from 2pm to 3.30pm. As a small charity, we are also always looking for passionate volunteers to help with fundraising and events. Our bookshop in Palace Street is run entirely by volunteers. They are responsible for sorting through donations, pricing items and making sales in the shop, as well as running an eBay shop.
Rosie added: “Volunteering at Catching Lives is a great opportunity to support a small, local charity and help people experiencing homelessness. Through collective action, volunteers have a positive impact on our clients. It’s also a great chance to meet new people, develop new skills and get a greater understanding of the homelessness crisis and more.
“We strive to be flexible in our volunteering approach to make sure time is not a barrier to anyone wanting to help. Whether you have one day a week to offer or one day a month, we can make it work.”
How to volunteer
Reach out to volunteer@catchinglives.org if you have any questions and would like to talk more about current opportunities. Download an application form from the website www.catchinglive.org/become-a-volunteer complete and send to volunteer@catchinglives.org or drop it off at the centre on Station Road East, CT1 2RB. Please note there is a separate form for the bookshop that needs to be sent to bookshop@catchinglives.org
More info here.