As a Clothing Store & Laundry Volunteer you will be performing a pivotal role in assisting clients to access primary services, and creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. This is often the first step for clients in their recovery from homelessness.
Based in our Resource Centre in Victoria, this is a hands on, practical role that’s crucial in ensuring that service users can access our basic primary services when visiting us.
The Passage Resource Centre supports people experiencing homelessness in Westminster, providing a safe and welcoming environment where, as well as specialist support, their primary needs can be met. This includes providing showers, food, clothing and laundry services, all of which are vital in supporting those who are rough sleeping or insecurely housed.
We are seeking volunteers to support with the daily running of our laundry service and clothing store. There is constant high demand for these services and we are looking for volunteers who are comfortable providing direct assistance to our service users, supporting with different duties depending on what needs doing on a particular day, and engaging with our service users in a friendly and non-judgmental way.
This role is supervised by the Resettlement Team, who are responsible for establishing the needs of our clients via an initial assessment, and then signposting into our internal services which include employment, advice & advocacy (including welfare rights, modern slavery, migrant support and immigration), mental and physical health, and housing.
Main duties
- Following a system for taking in service user laundry, and returning cleaned clothing to service users when ready
- Washing and drying clothing for service users
- Keeping laundry room tidy and organised
- Helping clients find clothing in our clothing store
- Helping to unpack, sort, and put away clothing donations
- Making staff aware about levels of clothing donations and when items are running low
If you are seeking experience in the homelessness sector, happy to work in a busy environment and up for hands on tasks, this role would be suited to you.
It is our mission to prevent and end homelessness in London, acting with compassion and urgency. Volunteers are essential to The Passage and our success. Our team of volunteers add tremendous value to our services, from serving food and driving, to providing complementary therapies and facilitating English conversation classes. By joining us and offering your time to support us, you help us continue to bring these vital services to those in need.
You will receive full support from the volunteer supervisor and coordinator throughout your time with us.
Volunteers are essential to The Passage and our success. Our team of volunteers add tremendous value to our services, from serving food and driving to providing complementary therapies and facilitating English conversation classes.
All volunteers benefit from:
- Induction and training including introduction to homelessness, personal & professional boundaries and equality, diversity & inclusion
- Learning more about homelessness and the challenges faced by people using our services
- Flexibility of shift times and a wide variety of roles
- Travel expenses reimbursed
Desired qualities
- Aged 18 or over – essential
- Interested in volunteering with adults with a variety of support needs
- Flexible attitude towards duties, does what needs doing
- Confident nature, ability to approach people and talk to them
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