By Emily Maclean, Second Year, English
As term winds down and the festive season begins to glimmer on the horizon, now’s a wonderful opportunity to think about how you can use the winter holiday to give back to the wider Bristol community.
Charities often feel the chill of the winter months the most, relying on volunteers to provide warmth and support during a particularly bleak period for many. After months of wading through a constant stream of reading and deadlines, volunteering offers a change of focus, engaging with the broader community and making a tangible, positive impact.
For many students, volunteering has been reduced to a tick-box exercise for employability, but its true value lies far beyond these surface-level motivations. Volunteering is a way to forge genuine connections, offer a sense of purpose and belonging, engage with unfamiliar areas of Bristol, and ultimately transform hours otherwise spent mindlessly scrolling into meaningful action.
Make your holiday count; here are five ways to get involved in Bristol over the winter holidays. Try one, step out of your comfort zone, and you might discover a new passion - one that makes your usual screen time feel a lot less rewarding.
Oxfam
Oxfam works year-round, selling pre-loved items to raise funds in its mission to end global poverty and create a fairer world. As the festive season floods shops with Christmas shoppers eagerly selecting presents, Oxfam is the perfect place to offer a helping hand. Oxfam told Epigram that ‘Volunteers can develop skills, make new friends and, of course, will be helping to raise money to fund Oxfam’s work abroad.’
With four book shops, three standard shops and an online shop across Bristol, and including Clifton, Cotham, and Westbury-on-Trym, there are roles to suit almost every location. Applying is simple, and it’s best to sign up early so shop managers have time to train you before the holiday rush. Volunteering here also offers the chance to continue into the new year, joining a friendly volunteer team and turning retail work into a worthwhile contribution.
Caring in Bristol – Caring at Christmas
Caring at Christmas provides support to individuals experiencing homelessness, with a week-long pop-up centre providing festive meals, a sense of community, and essential wellbeing services. The project relies on hundreds of volunteers, providing a powerful, large-scale experience.
There are many ways to get involved, from food preparation and serving to logistics, donations coordination and front-of-house support. It’s easy to sign up and select your role through an online volunteering portal. While the project focuses on the holiday season, Caring in Bristol also organises events throughout the year, meaning that volunteers are always welcome.
Avon Needs Trees
Avon Needs Trees combats the climate and ecological emergencies through the creation of permanent woodland throughout the Bristol-Avon catchment. Volunteering is flexible - you can attend a single session or make a weekly commitment. No prior experience is necessary, and activities include planting trees, maintaining woodland, and learning about biodiversity.
This is an ideal way to get outdoors during the winter and enjoy fresh air in the comfort of an enthusiastic group, all while contributing to environmental efforts.
The Matthew of Bristol
The Matthew of Bristol was built between 1994 – 1996 to mark the 500th anniversary of John Cabot’s 1497 voyage and is now one of Bristol’s most iconic harbourside attractions. During the winter, volunteers can assist with annual maintenance, working alongside a knowledgeable team and getting hands-on experience with traditional ship preservation.
Volunteers also have the opportunity to discover more about Bristol’s rich seafaring history, learning about a transformative chapter of Bristol’s past, and sharing this stories with the public. This role does require a regular weekly commitment, but those who sign up using the Volunteer Application Form gain priceless practical skills and knowledge, and even the chance to join public trips during the summer sailing season.
Young Bristol
Young Bristol supports young people aged 8-25, offering community-based youth services and mentoring. Volunteers can share skills and experiences, running three-hour sessions one or two nights a week, fostering a positive, safe, and fun space for young people across Bristol.
Volunteers act as trusted mentors and role models, providing guidance and friendship to young people across the city. filling in a form, you can join a team and work together to ensure young people are included and empowered.
These are just a handful of opportunities in Bristol this winter. If you’re away during this period or have other interests, the Bristol SU Volunteering Hub is regularly updated with projects and ways to get involved - there’s always an opportunity to make a difference if you take the first step!
Featured Image: Annabel Bienfait
