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2001/2002
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| West London Initiative on Single Homelessness |
The People Who Give Their Time1. All year round |
| Time is what most people give to WISH and without
this we would not be able to provide the services that we do. To run the
Roof requires about 400 volunteers and the Breakfast Club although needing
a smaller number, needs people to commit themselves throughout the year.
Each volunteer brings something different, either a particular skill (catering,
medical, practical or personal) or purely their enthusiasm. They also help
in many different ways: working at the Breakfast Club or Roof, helping
with recruiting other volunteers, fundraising or procuring equipment, buildings
and supplies or talking to schools, youth or church groups, Rotary Clubs,
local Masonic Lodges etc.
WISH produces a newsletter a few times each year to keep them informed. Occasional social events provide the opportunity for volunteers to meet the management committee and express their views on our current or planned services. People volunteer for a variety of reasons, they often want to give something to those less fortunate than themselves but may also enjoy the companionship of other volunteers. Many volunteers report that working at the Christmas Roof is not what they expected, Although it is often hard work, it is rewarding and usually more fun than they thought it would be. WISH asks them to complete a questionnaire to get their feedback on the services provided and to find out how they found the experience. |
Best moment
Gate duty. Talking to guests (x 4)..And talking to volunteers. Gratitude in someone’s face when I gave them a pair of socks. Speaking to two people in particular – their sense of humour and seeing how much WISH makes a difference to their Christmas. |
| Worst moment
Gate duty. The first 20 minutes, four of us standing in the pitch dark and cold, staring at a fire exit not knowing what on earth we were doing this for. Getting there. Cleaning up vomit. |
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| Funniest moment
Dancing at the gate. Can’t think of one but it was often a bit of a laugh. A surreal humour ran throughout. Guests’ sense of humour. You should hear some of the jokes I heard. Cleaning up vomit. |
| Name | Carley |
| Day job | Community worker for local council |
| WISH jobs | Breakfast Club Working Group chair
Breakfast Club team leader Roof assistant shift leader Volunteer's newsletter writer |
| Favourite Place | New York |
| How WISH makes a difference | |
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After working with soup runs for a local church, I started helping WISH and have worked at 2 Roofs and at the Breakfast Club since it started. I liked the Roof as all the volunteers and guests came together to make difference. I felt there was no hierarchy - and it was good fun! Both the guests and volunteers come from many walks of life. Each time I get something more out of it. |
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The Sunday Breakfast Club has now been running for over
a year, with extended opening times for the last nine months. It has continued
to be a success with a rise in the average number of breakfasts served
each week to 42.
The team leader and management liaison person arrive early each Sunday at Cricklewood Homeless Concern where the Breakfast Club is held. They warm up the oven and start to unpack supplies while waiting for the other volunteers to arrive. The team leader then assigns a task to each member of the team and there is a flurry of activity to get everything ready for 9 o'clock. The inexpensive cooked breakfast, comprising sausage, bacon, egg and beans or tomatoes continues to be a favorite with porridge gaining in popularity. The free toast is still available for those who are unable to pay. Cereal has also been added to the menu. The volunteer on the tea point is usually very busy as even the clients who attend the Breakfast Club for the companionship, to read the papers or enjoy a game of draughts, enjoy several cups of tea. The team leader ensures that all jobs are covered: greeting clients at the door, working on reception and of course, cooking and serving the food as well as keeping on top of the washing up! The team leaders have formed a Working Group that meets regularly to discuss ways in which the service might be improved. The Breakfast Club has also given WISH the opportunity to work closely
with Cricklewood Homeless Concern. We feel it is important to liaise with
other organisations who work in the same field to ensure the services we
provide complement each other and to make more efficient use of our combined
resources. As well as CHC, WISH works alongside Quaker Homeless Action
and the London Mobile Christmas.
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