Could you join Fran and Mustard Tree to help the homeless?
07 Dec 2020
Mustard Tree needs six of the best – volunteers needed each day in the run up to Christmas
Mustard Tree helps homeless people to change their lives, secure better accommodation and economic wellbeing, focusing on tackling both the causes and consequences of poverty and homelessness.
The charity is looking for help from up to six volunteers per day, and are being supported to link up with our students and staff by our colleague Frances Muscatelli, Volunteering and Community Engagement Executive in our Directorate for Student Experience.
“I first started volunteering with homeless organisations when I was a student at Manchester,” Frances explains.
“It’s such a fulfilling way to spend your time – supporting some of the most disadvantaged in society and meeting interesting people who you wouldn’t normally mix with. It totally defined my experience as an undergrad. Now I’m a staff member in the Volunteering Team, I get to support others to have these same experiences.
“In the run-up to Christmas, and particularly in the context of the pandemic, organisations like Mustard Tree are even more important. They provide a lifeline for those without a place to sleep, food to eat or a family to celebrate with.”
The volunteers will help deliver services in its Ancoats centre over the December period. They are needed from 8.30am – 2.30pm from Mondays to Saturdays in the run up to Christmas to fulfil the following roles:
Kitchen assistants
Working with Adam the head chef to produce food for the lunch drop-in
Odd jobs in the kitchen/canteen e.g. food prep, welcoming and serving clients, cleaning up tables
Supporting to make food parcels
Helping to run the low cost food pantry
Community Shop support
Helping in the community shop which resells donated furniture, clothes, toys, bric-a-brac
Welcoming people into the shop
Supporting the general public to make purchases
Organising the shop, sorting donations and making the retail space look nice
Volunteers will get a full induction and tour of the centre. You will be fully supported while you volunteer, PPE will be provided and social distancing will be observed as much as possible.
The charity is looking for people who are flexible and happy to volunteer for either of the roles – you can volunteer to help out on just one day or as many as you'd like. Please make sure any time off work to volunteer is discussed with your line manager and booked in the normal way.
To volunteer, please email:
Available dates are: Wednesday 9 December, Thursday 10 December, Friday 11 December, Saturday 12 December, Monday 14 December, Tuesday 15 December, Wednesday 16 December, Thursday 17 December, Saturday 19 December, Monday 21 December, Tuesday 22 December, Wednesday 23 December & Thursday 24 December.
More information
For more information or to make a donation, visit: