Volunteering For Homeless Charities In Portsmouth

There's a wide range of reasons why people can end up on the street, from a lack of family support to struggling with addictions. It can sometimes be almost impossible to change your life around once you're in that situation, especially without the help of others.  

Luckily, there are many national and local charities that do amazing work when it comes to providing vulnerable people with brighter futures. Homelessness is a widespread issue across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, with figures currently at their highest recorded point in years.  

In Portsmouth, homelessness has been on the rise over the past decade, which means local homeless charities need all the help they can get. Volunteering to help with valuable support services, administration tasks, fundraising efforts or publicity are fantastic ways to get involved. 

HOMELESS SANCTUARIES IN PORTSMOUTH THAT NEED YOUR HELP 

HOPE PORTSMOUTH

Run by Portsmouth's King's Church, HOPE Projects are a collection of community projects that provide assistance, education and much-needed amenities to people in need. Among these projects are the Portsmouth Foodbank and Foodcycle. While the former relies on donations of food to hand out to the city's most vulnerable, the latter involves volunteers using donated ingredients and kitchen spaces to prepare nutritious meals for the homeless.  

HOPE Portsmouth is also able to assist those experiencing hardship in other ways through its dedicated Circle of Support network. This allows the charity to provide tailored assistance and a friendly face, whether that's in securing housing, gaining employment or mending relationships with family and friends.  

You could volunteer to help out at the foodbank (either by meeting clients and handing out parcels, or through other behind the scenes work such as sorting, weighing and storing food in the warehouse) or contribute in other ways, such as through spreading the word about the charity's good work, helping to support their website or by donating food supplies. 

SOCIETY OF ST. JAMES 

The Society of St. James is Hampshire's leading homelessness charity. Founded in 1972, the charity is currently able to assist over 2,500 disadvantaged adults every year with a series of programmes aimed to empower and positively impact those in need.  

From those who cannot find employment to those battling an addiction or mental health problem, the Society of St. James aims to tackle the root causes of homelessness through its range of interventional support services. It also has a range of accommodation options in Portsmouth and other nearby cities that are able to house up to 300 people.  

As well as assisting adults, this amazing charity also helps 16 to 25 year olds who are homeless (or at risk of becoming so) through their All Saint's Young People's Service. As well as safe housing, it also assists them in gaining employment with training programmes, work placements and practical skills.  

The Society of St. James has a number of volunteering opportunities, from helping with maintenance on their accommodation sites to mentoring a person in need or organising trips and offsite activities. You could also assist with charity events in Portsmouth or even start your own fundraising challenge on their behalf.  

HELPING DESERVING CAUSES

If you'd like to know more about getting involved in volunteering in your community, take a look at our Local Causes page and find opportunities near you.