Several constituents have written to me asking how they can help this Christmas. Homeless shelters, food banks and care homes are usually keen for extra help – but this year, controlling the spread of COVID-19 means we need to be more creative about charity work.

My team and I have compiled this list of volunteering opportunities. We plan give some time some of these charities this Christmas – maybe see you there!

If you know of other organisations that need help at this time of year, let me know and I can add them to the list.

• The Marmalade Trust is looking for volunteers to help lonely people. Their volunteering programmes include telephone calls, hamper deliveries and delivering Christmas meals – you can find more information here.

If you know of someone who may be lonely this Christmas, you can refer them to the Marmalade Trust by emailing Amy Perrin on info@marmaladetrust.org.

• Eastside Community Trust at Easton Community Centre is delivering and preparing hampers in BS5 and organising hot meals for local children during December. Contact Tracy if you would like to get involved: tracyeb@upourstreet.org.uk.

Eastside Community Trust are a community-led organisation looking to grow their membership – if you are local to this area and would like to join you can find out more information about it here. 

Here is a link to a fundraiser that local mums have organised, to cook weekly meals for vulnerable families in Barton Hill, who are struggling particularly due to lockdown and Tier 3.

• St Werburgh’s Community Centre is organising a festive meal to be delivered to older people on 11 December. If you would like to sign up to help deliver these, please contact the centre on emma@stwerburghs.org.uk

They also need volunteers to be befrienders and to call isolated people over December and January.

• Bristol Rovers Community Trust is organising socially-distanced visits to elderly or isolated people under their ‘Garden Gate Visits’ to deliver Tablets. Find out how you can take part by contacting info@bristolroverscommunity.org.uk

If you’d prefer to stay at home, you can also write letters and calls to elderly and isolated people by contacting Bristol Rovers Community Trust.

• The Quartet Community Foundation is asking those who can afford it to donate their winter fuel payment, or other contribution, to the ‘Surviving Winter’ appeal. The money can be a lifeline for older, isolated people over the winter months.