Founded by Meg Grimes in 1986
Volunteering
Make a Difference in Your Community
At The Julian Trust, we are committed to providing shelter, warmth, and a sense of belonging to individuals experiencing homelessness. Volunteering with us is an opportunity to give back to the community, make a meaningful impact, and develop valuable skills—while being part of a supportive, friendly team.
Volunteer Shifts
We offer two rewarding volunteering shifts that help provide essential support to our guests: Evening Shifts and Overnight Shifts. These opportunities are available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Fridays.
Evening Shifts: From 7:00pm to 9:30pm, a team of volunteers assist with preparing for the night’s shelter operations, serve hot meals, and ensure our guests have what they need for a comfortable evening stay. During the evening shifts, volunteers also distribute clothes and toiletries, offering practical items to help guests feel more comfortable and supported. In addition, volunteers help signpost guests to relevant services, ensuring they have access to additional resources and support, such as healthcare or housing services.
As a volunteer on the evening shift, you’ll work closely with a team lead/supervisor, who will help guide your role for the night. Some volunteers prefer to stick to a specific job each week, while others enjoy rotating between different tasks.
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Overnight Shifts: From 9:30pm to 8:00am, overnight volunteers provide a calming presence for those staying with us, ensuring safety, helping with any issues that arise overnight, and assisting with the morning routine as guests begin their day. During overnight shifts, you will be on shift with one other friendly volunteer, and together, you will take turns sleeping while the other monitors the sleeping guests. This ensures a balance of rest and vigilance, helping maintain a safe and peaceful environment throughout the night.
No Experience Necessary
We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, and no prior experience is necessary. What matters most is kindness, understanding, and a willingness to help. At The Julian Trust, we value the compassion and care that volunteers bring to our community.
To ensure you feel confident in your role, we offer training in several key areas:
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Mental health training to understand and support guests' emotional and psychological needs
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Drug and alcohol awareness training to help you navigate challenges with respect and knowledge
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First aid training to ensure you’re prepared to assist in case of medical emergencies
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Kitchen safety training to ensure that food preparation and serving are done safely and efficiently
Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering with The Julian Trust is not only an act of kindness; it’s an experience that brings many personal rewards. Here are just a few of the benefits:
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Socialisation and Connection: As a volunteer, you’ll become part of a welcoming community. It’s a wonderful way to meet new people, make meaningful connections, and form friendships with like-minded individuals passionate about giving back.
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Giving Back to the Community: Your time and support directly impact individuals in need. The work you do at The Julian Trust helps to provide a safe space for people who are vulnerable and facing difficult circumstances.
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Transferrable Skills for Your CV: Volunteering is a great way to gain practical experience and build transferrable skills that are highly valued in many professions. Whether it's communication, teamwork, crisis management, or leadership, volunteering helps you develop skills that will look great on your CV and open doors to future opportunities.
How to Get Started
Before joining one of our friendly teams, we ask that all prospective volunteers fill in our application form and attend a mandatory introduction session. These one-hour sessions are held at 6:30pm and provide an overview of our shelter operations, and guidance on how you can make the most of your volunteering experience.
After completing the session, you will be ready to begin volunteering on your chosen shift. You’ll be supported by experienced team members and have the chance to ask any questions you may have along the way.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Volunteering at The Julian Trust is a rewarding and impactful experience. By offering your time, you are helping to provide a warm, welcoming environment for those who need it most. Whether you are looking to give back, meet new people, or build valuable skills, there is a place for you at our shelter.
We invite you to join us—attend a session and start making a real difference today. Together, we can continue our mission to offer hope and support to individuals facing homelessness