Christmas is coming.
The geese are getting fat.
So please put a penny in the old man’s hat…
Christmas is not only coming. It’s here. If you have visited some leading department stores around the country, it seems to have been around since August.
Christmas is a time for sharing. And caring. But that seems to be all good if you have someone to share and care with. However, if you don’t, Christmas can be a very lonely time. A recent survey by a telephone company has revealed that almost half of Britons say they experience loneliness during the festive period, and more than a third will be spending Christmas apart from loved ones this year.
One way loneliness can be overcome is through volunteering. Especially at Christmas time, there are uber opportunities to help at homeless shelters and spend time with the elderly, the vulnerable and care leavers.
Research published in recent years suggested black people who want to volunteer for charities are often overlooked because voluntary organisations failed to reach out to the black and ethnic minority communities. The research also found that even if people wanted to volunteer their time, they did not know where to go or who to ask. So as a nation, we need to be proactive.
Get out there and find it because the need is out there. Volunteering is one of the best ways to gain new skills and for those in between jobs, it can increase employability as well as help the local community. I like volunteering and over the past few years, I volunteered for charities like Crisis at Christmas and met people from all backgrounds. It’s great fun. So go deck the halls and mince the pies. Give the gift of fellowship and you’ll be jingling all the way!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Ya’ll.
