|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Volunteering |
|
|
| Chelsea Methodist Centre accommodates a wide variety of groups
and activities. The ground floor provides a welcoming reception area
known as the Narthex where people can pray or sit quietly, or benefit
from being able to get the cheapest coffee on the King's Road. This
facility is used by a wide variety of people, including those who
are homeless, the lonely, people living with mental health problems,
and guests from Chelsea and from far afield. Tea, coffee and sandwiches
are served between 10am and 2pm every week day. Other facilities available
include a shower and laundry for homeless people. If you would like to do voluntary work, but can't find what you're looking for in the list below, get in touch with the Volunteer Bureau on 020 8960 3722 or check their website. |
|
|
| List of volunteering opportunities
at Chelsea Methodist Centre Benefits for volunteers Staff and volunteer guidelines |
|
|
Volunteers over Christmas
|
|
Narthex / Café |
| The café in the Narthex serves sandwiches, tea, coffee, biscuits, etc. every week day from 10am to 2pm. If you would like to help, you could either prepare sandwiches (between 9am and 10am on one or more days per week) or serve at the coffee bar, which would include setting out cups, saucers, and food; making tea and coffee; selling food and drinks; handling money, and clearing away & washing up; "half-shifts" are from 10-12 or from 12-2, a "full shift" from 10-2. |
|
The Laundry Project |
| The Laundry for homeless people currently runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00am until 3.30pm, the last wash is at 1.00pm. Volunteers are needed to welcome the users and help with the machines for 3-4 hours on either Tuesday or Thursday. |
|
Listening Ear |
| If you would like to become a 'listening ear', all you need to do is to be available in the Narthex during any 2 hours between 10-2pm on a weekday to listen to anyone who wants someone to talk with. You should have some kind of training or proven experience in sympathetic listening. |
| Chelsea Methodist Church hosts the West London Churches Winter Night Shelter for homeless people on Monday nights from November to March. Supper and breakfast is served for usually around 30 guests. Volunteers are needed to help preparing supper (usually on a Monday afternoon) and to help serving meals and washing up. Also, we need volunteers to welcome the visitors and to socialise amongst them. |
|
|
| Training: Volunteers are trained on the job. There are also occasional in-service training events on topics such as listening skills, health and safety, drugs' awareness, etc., where volunteers are welcome to attend. |
| Support: There are regular meetings which all volunteers are invited to attend. These provide an opportunity for sharing ideas and information, and sorting out any problems. The Narthex Manager is available most days for further support. |
| Expenses: Of course, volunteers will be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses incurred in their work. Tea, coffee, and sandwiches are free to all the volunteers. |
|
|
| Chelsea Methodist Church can provide somewhere to sit, some food or drink, a shower, a wash of clothes, a certain amount of listening, and a limited amount of advice and of non-financial support. We can also encourage people to meet with the helping organisations that are here. |
| We are not here to manipulate
people, or to help them in ways that they have not asked for. Also, we are not trained, resourced or supported to stand-in for any specialist service (such as CAB, Homelessness Unit, Mental Health Team, counselling service). We must be aware of our limitations and the fact that we can do more harm than good if we try to tackle problems beyond our capabilities. Most importantly, we cannot offer money! |
| The consumption of alcohol is not allowed anywhere
on the premises. However, people who have been drinking are not necessarily
excluded from the Narthex. With the exception of Wednesdays, smoking is allowed in the Narthex, but nowhere else. People should not smoke in, or immediately in front of the coffee bar. |
| At least one member of staff is always present in or near the Narthex whilst the Narthex is open (see timetable on the Narthex office door for the staff rota). A full version of the staff and volunteer guidelines is available for all volunteers. |