Need a new hobby this January? Put away the dumbbells and pick up something a wee bit more gratifying. There's plenty wholesome heavy lifting to be done across Glasgow this year.
The secret to boosting your mood through a gloomy (and often Dry) January is keeping the community spirit of the festive season alive.
We might not be exchanging presents or visiting our mum for turkey leftovers anymore, but that’s no reason not to rally together.
In fact, chatting to a lonely old person who lives alone or volunteering at a soup kitchen is more important than ever as we head into January’s cold days and dark evenings.
Here's our guide to as a guide to all the fantastic charities and organisations in the city you can help right now.
Support refugees
Rooms for Refugees, a Glasgow based organisation, are currently accepting applications from people with spare rooms in the city who can offer a home to refugees and asylum seekers.
But you don’t have to own a spare room to make a difference.
Refuweegee are in need of volunteers to help deliver packs of food, winter clothing, books and board games, so if you have a bike or car, be sure to get in touch. They are also looking for people to sort donations and put the packs together too. For more information, head here.
Sharing is caring
Hunger is a huge concern for underprivileged families at the start of the year - especially as people wait for their first pay check post-Christmas.
Food bank network Trussell Trust has 132 food banks across Glasgow. Last year the organisation distributed 2.5 million emergency food parcels to people in crisis across the UK, a 33% increase on the previous year.
They rely on on 28,000 volunteers across the country, with opportunities from a few hours a month to a few days a week. Find out more here.
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Mentor and motivate
With MCR Pathways you can volunteer to mentor a secondary school pupil - and you don’t even need any particular skills or experience.
Volunteer tutors support young people with their class and exam success in school. Can you support a pupil in a subject they’re struggling with? Contact MCR here to get involved.
Help the homeless
Voted Scottish Charity of the Year in 2020, Simon Scotland provide emergency and supported accommodation, and a range of initiatives to ensure people can avoid, resolve and recover from homelessness. Sign up to help out their street teams or at their access hubs - there are currently volunteering opportunities for folks interested in delivering food, gardening, bike mechanics, and much more.
Meanwhile Kindness Homeless Street are a homeless street team who provide food, clothing and toiletries to Glasgow’s rough sleepers and families facing poverty. It is heavily reliant on volunteers and you can find out how you can help here.
Glasgow-based community initiative Homeless Project Scotland provide emergency items such as sleeping bags, warm clothing, toiletries and hot food to homeless people from their mobile soup kitchen. The organisation is keen to work with general volunteers pitching in to help and even trains their longstanding volunteers in Naloxone Training, Drug Awareness, Alcohol Awareness, Addiction Awareness and First Aid.
Quarriers Supported Youth Housing Project is a housing support service for young people aged 16-25 years old who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. They currently have volunteering opportunities to work with children and young people and assist with the planning and facilitating of group work activities.
Care for the elderly
Age UK, Independent Age and Re-engage pair lonely older people with volunteer call companions.
Meanwhile Give a Dog a Bone in Shawlands offers a safe space for retired people to make new friends, learn new skills and mix with dogs. They are currently looking for a community space volunteer to help out on Wednesdays. Find out more here.
Lend a helping hand
Open to any volunteering opportunity or keen to see where your skill-set would help most? Volunteer Glasgow and Volunteer Scotland are two great websites where you can search for volunteering opportunities based on your area or your interests.
