VOLUNTEERING
The best gift you can give at Christmas is your time. For this month’s lesson on mental wellness, Jon Sutton extolls the virtues of volunteering during the season of goodwill. Read on to learn about some of the amazing charities you can support this Christmas, as well as how to spot the signs of someone in active addiction and the ways you can help.
In the past, I have seen some of my friends fall victim to homelessness on the streets of Cardiff and have subsequently helped to organise a small charity that delivers clothes to the homeless. So, when work opportunities took me to Cape Town last year, I was greeted by an entirely new experience. Our Capetonian cousins have found the antidote to the great lost weekend: volunteering.
For a city steeped in such historic conflict and hatred, today’s Cape Town is leading the way in love and acceptance, by actively helping the homeless. Every Monday evening, tribes of locals gather to help in the city’s many soup kitchens. One bar on the city’s bustling Bree Street – aptly named Love Thy Neighbour – has a ticketing system which guarantees almost 200 homeless people fair entry, while the massive beer garden ensures that everyone gets a seat. And it seems that Cape Town carnival fever is catching.
A 2017 study by John Hopkins University estimated there were around 970 million people currently volunteering around the world, and a study by UK Civil Society Almanac 2019 put the British number at almost 20 million, 12 million of whom do so on a regular basis. And with such high numbers of volunteers comes a staggering financial increase for the UK. The Office Of National Statistics puts the annual value of UK volunteering at a massive £23.8 billion. Many charities simply couldn’t survive without this boost, courtesy of a willing public.
With Christmas around the corner, many will be feeling the anxiety of spending the festive season alone. And whilst there are many ways to boost your own mental wellness outside of volunteering – whether it’s through exercise, diet or social activity – remember that if you choose to volunteer, you’ll be helping someone else out too. For millions of elderly people around the country, a volunteer may be the only person they speak to this Christmas.
And perhaps more concerning, an even greater number of young people are now claiming to feel the dread of loneliness, as December 25th creeps closer. A recent survey by Mind, featured in The Independent, found that one in 10 people aged between 25 and 34 said that they have no-one to spend Christmas with, compared with one in 20 older people.
So, if you’re looking to boost your own mental strength this winter, perhaps it’s worth considering the multitude of volunteering options in your community. You just might end up saving the life of someone you’ve never even met.
CHARITIES TO HELP OUT THIS CHRISTMAS
THE ATTIC PROJECT
The Attic Project is a reminiscence project run by VCS Cymru, which supports vulnerable older people by helping them sort through their possessions, clear space and make their home safer to move around in. Sorting through old possessions can also bring back a lot of memories, so volunteers also listen to and record the client’s stories for them. The project wants to make this process as empowering and joyful as possible and, by volunteering, you’ll be helping people feel less lonely at a difficult time of the year and hear some pretty amazing stories while you’re at it.
Info: www.careandrepair.org.uk/en/attic-project
CAIS
CAIS is a charity which supports people having problems with addictions and mental health by providing services which aim to rehabilitate, get people back into work or education, and to help rebuild a normal and healthy lifestyle. There are loads of different areas where you can help out, which means you could volunteer while also enjoying a hobby you’ve been wanting to make time for – like gardening, or singing in the CAIS One Love Choir.
Info: www.cais.co.uk
PASS THE PARCEL
The Wallich, Cardiff and Newport
Around Christmas, homeless charity The Wallich gets lots of donations, which unfortunately they can’t store. But now, with their Pass The Parcel scheme, you can buy packs online at different price-points, so they can purchase brand new items like toiletries and thermals to give to rough sleepers throughout the year. If you want to do even more, volunteers can help out at DIY SOS-style days to spruce up their different projects across Wales, become a Breakfast Run volunteer delivering hot food and drinks to rough sleepers, and much more.
Info: www.thewallich.com
SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS APPEAL
You can support your local branch of Salvation Army by donating new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children who might not otherwise receive a Christmas present. They also offer a suggested gift list for children of all ages, from dolls and teddy bears for those aged three and under to books, makeup and clothes for 13-16-year-olds.
Info: www.salvationarmy.org.uk
LATCH’S ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS CARDS
Recent studies suggest Christmas cards have had dwindling popularity recently. The Welsh children’s cancer charity Latch invites people to donate the cost of a pack of Christmas cards, rather than buying them. Their crowdfunding campaign on Facebook has yet to reach its goal, so instead of wasting already disposable paper and cardboard, support a local charity instead.
Info: www.latchwales.org
HOPE RESCUE – COSY KENNELS SHOEBOX APPEAL
Christmas is the busiest time of year for this animal charity, which saves stray and abandoned dogs in south Wales. Their Cosy Kennels Shoebox Appeal invites people to fill a shoebox full of goodies to give to dogs, including fleecy blankets and towels, tinned dog food, tinned hot dog sausages, meaty or long-lasting treats and tough dog toys and balls. Just drop off your shoebox of goodies to a local branch.
Info: www.hoperescue.org.uk
RSPCA – STOCK THE SLEIGH
You can help to stock said sleigh so that the RSPCA can continue their work in delivering vital supplies to the thousands of abused, neglected and abandoned animals left out in the cold at Christmas time. Whether it’s blankets, treats, toys, a safe bed or veterinary care, you can donate a sum as you add your chosen gifts to the sleigh online. Their website also includes lots of advice of how best to treat your pets in winter.
Info: www.rspca.org.uk/winterappeal
(Additional research by Joseph Draper, Elin Evans and Sam Pryce)
HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS
People in active addiction often do all they can to hide it from others. And, just as we are all different, misuse of substances or other damaging behaviours can affect each individual in different ways.
Common signs may include:
- Changes in physical appearance, which may include weight loss, neglected personal hygiene or skin problems
- Other health issues – addiction can be closely related to other conditions
- Loss of interest in hobbies or pastimes, including spending time with close friends and family
- A change in sleep habits and patterns
- Becoming secretive, often to hide the problem and its scale or extent
- Dramatic or out of character moodswings
- Financial pressures related to the cost of maintaining an addiction
If you are experiencing a problem, or you believe someone close to you may be, then the first step is to talk about the issue and to seek specialist help and support.
Confidential advice is available from your GP, or by contacting the DAN 24/7 helpline on 0808 8082234. Support with residential rehabilitation may be available from the NHS, depending on your circumstances – or you can contact Parkland Place direct by visiting www.parklandplace.co.uk or calling 01492 203421.