Winter Season Volunteers
Thank you for your support for the Bromley Homeless Shelter's work. You may have been wondering what will happen this year. We are unsure whether we are able to run a night shelter this winter due to Coronavirus.
Firstly, the Government guidance is changing and restricts many activities and gatherings.
Secondly, there is a risk that we would have insufficient volunteers if we run the shelter. If you wish to volunteer, please carefully consider the risk to yourself.
We believe, based on medical advice that it would be inadvisable for anyone over the age of 50 to sleep overnight at the shelter.
Whether we open the shelter or not, we will still need people to cook and provide support for those we help.
Similarly, if over the age of 50, cooks would need to keep their distance from others and allow younger people to serve the meals. There would need to be additional virus prevention measures.
As an alternative, homeless people may be placed in temporary accommodation, such as hostels and hotels, working closely with the London Borough of Bromley and other charitable organisations. In this case, we would be providing meals and moral support to these people in addition to our normal advice service.
Despite these uncertainties we are opening registration so we can be responsive to the needs of those we help. If you still wish to volunteer, please carefully consider the risks yourself before registering.
Thank you for your support for the Bromley Homeless Shelter's work. You may have been wondering what will happen this year. We are unsure whether we are able to run a night shelter this winter due to Coronavirus.
Firstly, the Government guidance is changing and restricts many activities and gatherings.
Secondly, there is a risk that we would have insufficient volunteers if we run the shelter. If you wish to volunteer, please carefully consider the risk to yourself.
We believe, based on medical advice that it would be inadvisable for anyone over the age of 50 to sleep overnight at the shelter.
Whether we open the shelter or not, we will still need people to cook and provide support for those we help.
Similarly, if over the age of 50, cooks would need to keep their distance from others and allow younger people to serve the meals. There would need to be additional virus prevention measures.
As an alternative, homeless people may be placed in temporary accommodation, such as hostels and hotels, working closely with the London Borough of Bromley and other charitable organisations. In this case, we would be providing meals and moral support to these people in addition to our normal advice service.
Despite these uncertainties we are opening registration so we can be responsive to the needs of those we help. If you still wish to volunteer, please carefully consider the risks yourself before registering.
This will link to a video, 8 minutes long showing a typical day in the life of the Winter Night Shelter |
If you have previously volunteered for The Bromley Homeless Shelter, you still need to re-register every year. |
Cooks and helpers: Due to Covid-19 concerns meals may be provided at lunch time and in fewer venues.
Meals are cooked by a team. Usually, each team volunteers on the same day once a fortnight. The team leader chooses a menu and purchases the ingredients. The cost is refunded. The team leader may be helped by friends or volunteers that can be assigned to the team. Typically there are 3 helpers to serve the meals, chat with the guests and wash up. Usually the meals are cooked in one of 5 churches in Central Bromley. In some circumstances, the meals may be cooked at home provided this poses no food safety concerns.
Meals are cooked by a team. Usually, each team volunteers on the same day once a fortnight. The team leader chooses a menu and purchases the ingredients. The cost is refunded. The team leader may be helped by friends or volunteers that can be assigned to the team. Typically there are 3 helpers to serve the meals, chat with the guests and wash up. Usually the meals are cooked in one of 5 churches in Central Bromley. In some circumstances, the meals may be cooked at home provided this poses no food safety concerns.
Breakfast helpers: Due to Covid - 19, it is unclear what will happen at breakfast.
Normally, at least 2 helpers are needed to serve breakfast. This is because the shelter has a rule that no volunteer may be alone with guests.
Normally, at least 2 helpers are needed to serve breakfast. This is because the shelter has a rule that no volunteer may be alone with guests.
Overnight Volunteers: If the night shelter is run, each night, two volunteers will sleep overnight with our guests. A team leader will build a schedule for the volunteers dependent upon the frequency with which they are able to help. Some volunteers help weekly, others less frequently, perhaps monthly. This is a critical role and it is essential that the volunteers can be relied upon to keep to their rota, or give their team leader adequate notice so that a substitute can be found. Because the Shelter has a robust approach to lone working, it is critical that volunteers are able to remain with the project during the duration of the shift as it will be very difficult to leave once volunteers and guests are in the shelter.
On their assigned day, a team leader will arrive at the meal location at 7 pm. The overnight volunteers will arrive between 7 and 8 pm; however, most prefer to arrive in time to share a meal with the guests. They will be given a briefing by the team leader so that they understand any issues that may have arisen in the past and special help that some guests may need. The team leader will bar any guests from the shelter if behavioural issues are suspected, for example, due to excess alcohol.
Shortly before 9 pm, on most nights, the overnight volunteers will walk to the sleeping location with the guests. On arrival, they will prepare teas or coffee as needed, while the guests take their beds out of storage and set them up.
The volunteers sleep overnight with the guests and rise at 6 am to give the guests tea and coffee while the beds are returned to storage and cleaning up is done by the guests, under supervision of the volunteers. The guests leave by 7 am to a nearby church for breakfast and volunteers have the option of joining them or leaving for work.
Support Volunteers: Our clients will be in need of support. They may feel lonely or need help with a problem. We require volunteers who can chat to them or drive to their accommodation with a meal. They will not give advice or counselling, but will need to sign post to the appropriate specialist.
We have formed a partnership with a counselling service and we already have an advice service. They will be able to provide professional help.
We have formed a partnership with a counselling service and we already have an advice service. They will be able to provide professional help.
