Charities across the country tend to get busier during the festive period and often run seasonal volunteering opportunities. These are a great way for you to make connections and give back to your local communities.

National Volunteering Opportunities

Here are some of the national opportunities running that we know about:

Crisis

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. They help people out of homelessness and campaign for the changes needed to solve it altogether.

The connections you make at Christmas can be long-lasting. And the support you give people experiencing homelessness can be life-changing. Join our incredible volunteer community - and help us end homelessness.

Find out more

British Red Cross

The British Red Cross bring hope and life-changing help to anyone who needs it, no matter who or where they are. We couldn’t run our services without the help and support of our committed volunteers and the people who generously donate to us.

Volunteer at Christmas and help us to make a huge difference to someone’s life.

Find out more

Trussell Trust

The Trussell Trust is an anti-poverty charity and community of food banks. We work together to ensure no one in the UK needs a food bank to survive, while providing emergency support for people left without enough money to live on.

Every year, more than 30,000 volunteers give their time, skills and compassion to support Trussell and our food bank community. Join them and you'll be part of a dynamic team supporting our vision to end the need for food banks.

Find out more

AgeUK

Age UK is the UK's leading charity for older people. They provide crucial information, advice and services to help millions navigate later life, from benefits and money to loneliness and health.

Volunteers offer the amount of time that suits them, which could range from a few hours a week to a few days a week. Alternatively you can join our volunteer register to help with ad-hoc and seasonal tasks such as supermarket bag packs and collections, Christmas dinners and summer fetes.

Find out more

Opportunities local to our campuses

We’ve found a few local opportunities near our campuses that you could get involved with, take a look at their websites and see how you could support those around you:

Manchester MenCap

They help people find and access volunteering opportunities in the Manchester area.

Join them in Making a Difference This Christmas!

They invite you to volunteer with our Me Time group in Manchester as we gear up for the festive season. Your participation can make a significant impact through a variety of engaging activities

Find out more

Leeds St. Vincent

They are a Community Support Project of the St Vincent de Paul Society (England & Wales) dedicated to helping vulnerable individuals and families in Leeds.

Christmas is the busiest time of year for us at St Vincent's Centre, Leeds and every year, St Vincent's Centre, Leeds' Christmas provision grows due to the ever growing needs of those within the local and wider community.

Find out more

Nottingham Christmas Meal Volunteer

Established in 1875, Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service aims to improve the quality of people’s lives in Nottingham by strengthening the voluntary and community sector.

Let's Shine and Give A Smile has big plans for Christmas 2025 and they'd like you to be part of them by giving some of your time. You'll be part of a great team of people who will prepare and serve a Christmas Dinner on Sunday 21 December for a LOT of people.

Find out more

Birmingham Christmas Shelter Volunteer

Birmingham Christmas Shelter is a local charity that has raised funds and recruited volunteers each year since 1974 to provide local adults who are homeless or otherwise alone at Christmas with a free warm, safe and welcoming place to eat, shower, sleep and enjoy Christmas.

Join them in supporting the homeless and vulnerable over Christmas

Find out more

London Volunteering Opportunities over Christmas

Christmas is a magical time of year, where you kick back and relax with the family. At least it should be. Not everyone can enjoy that luxury. But you can help. Here are some of the places you can volunteer at Christmas in London.

Find out more

Volunteering Opportunities in Berlin

They bring volunteers and non-profit organisations together in the Berlin area

Find your volunteering opportunities on vostel.de

Find out more

These are just a few organisations that run specific volunteering campaigns over the festive period but there will be many more charities near you that would appreciate your support!

From all of the team at Your Students’ Assocation – thank you for being part of our wonderful community in 2025! We hope you have a restful break and look forward to seeing you in the new year!