Volunteering Opportunities March – May 2017

We need a bit of help to publicise Trinity, and helping with our fundraising. Most of these opportunities are suitable for people who haven’t volunteered with us before, so please take a look and get in touch if you are interested!

  • Saturday 11th March – Winchester High St. We will be giving out flyers and information about our biggest fundraising event of the year, the Big Sleep Out, in St Maurice Covert (the area in between Debenhams and Greggs the bakers), between 10am – 4pm. We need people to give 2-3 hours during the day.
  • Saturday 8th April – Sainsbury’s Badger Farm. We have been offered space in the entrance of the store to collect spare change from shoppers. These events can raise between £500 – £800 in a single day, which makes a huge difference to Trinity’s services. If you can help for just 2 hours during the day, we would be very grateful.
  • Friday 5th – Saturday 6th May Winchester Cathedral – Could you help at the Sleep Out itself? We need marshalls, welcome team, food team, help setting up and packing down. Just let me know the hours you are free, and I’ll keep you busy!
  • Ad Hoc – Evenings. We are being invited to more groups of Scouts, Cubs and Brownies. If you have experience with young people and would be interested in helping to lead discussion and activities about homelessness, please let me know. The next date booked is Friday 25th March. 
  • Sunday 28th May – Old Sarum. We have limited places for people to have the incredible experience of Skydiving from 10,000 feet! The cost is just £50, with a fundraising target of £395 – please do spread the word that we have this booked, or let me know if you’re interested in the jump! More info: http://www.goskydive.com/trinity-winchester/

Please speak to Lucy Tennant – lucy@trinitywinchester.org.uk / 01962 828636 for more information, or to arrange your volunteering slot.

Local Companies Help Feed Homeless People

Local homelessness charity, Trinity Winchester, put out a call for volunteer chefs to cover their regular cook’s holiday, and have been inundated with support from generous local companies.

Teams from Winchester City Council, Enterprise Car Hire, Amey Construction, Fat Face, First Bite, the University of Winchester, Holiday Inn and Osborne Construction all dedicated a day’s volunteering to help homeless people. (more…)

Barry’s Story

Barry has been accessing Trinity’s services on and off for nearly 15 years. After being evicted from his family’s council property, he spent a few months sofa surfing with friends and family, and then moved into a caravan where he has been living for many years.

Trinity provided a space to wash himself and his clothing, receive a hot meal, and find advice regarding parking his caravan in new places.  Although Barry has worked most of his life as a forklift driver and warehouse worker, his latest job ended a few years ago. Barry accesses Trinity’s job club every Wednesday to look for appropriate jobs and get support in making applications. Barry was unable to open a bank account because he did not have a fixed address, but was able to use Trinity’s contact details and now has a basic bank account.

In the last few months, Barry has been helping to prepare and serve meals in Trinity’s kitchen 3 or 4 days a week.  Amazingly he was recently invited to view a flat, where he now lives with his brother, after long-term intervention from his key worker at Trinity.

“Trinity is an inspiring place, there are a few members of staff who have really encouraged and helped me. I have been given jobs to do in the past, like helping with the gardening or putting together new furniture. If you are willing to help yourself, Trinity is a fantastic place to come. I would like to gain full time employment in a kitchen, but will stay in touch and continue volunteering at Trinity.” (Barry, November 2016)