Celebrating our amazing volunteers

A massive thank you

First, we want to say just how grateful we are  to all our volunteers across the country, who donate their time, skills and friendly faces to Social Bite! Whatever you do – serving meals at our free food services, sorting clothing donations, helping out with fundraising events, or so much more – your support is invaluable.

78 brilliant people volunteer regularly with Social Bite, giving more than 5,000 hours of their time every year towards the movement  to end homelessness. We couldn’t do what we do without them, so for National Volunteers Week we’ll treat each of our volunteer families in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow to a celebratory meal. We’ll also host an online ‘townhall’ to bring everyone together wherever they are. We hope with these small gestures we can share even a little bit of the deep appreciation we have for every Social Bite volunteer. You inspire and amaze us every day!

 

What does it mean to be a volunteer?

For Rachel, volunteering has been a rewarding learning opportunity. She began volunteering through her company, CMS, at the 2022 Christmas Eve free food service.

“As soon as I had volunteered, I was keen to volunteer again. I got more from it than I could have anticipated, so when Social Bite got in touch with CMS about more regular volunteering in Aberdeen, I was quick to sign up.

“I now volunteer on Monday afternoons, helping to give out lunches and hot drinks to those who need them, no questions asked.  It’s wonderful to interact with people who you might not otherwise meet, to learn more about what it means to be homeless (it’s not just sleeping on the streets), and a little reminder to be grateful for all that we have.

“I’d encourage anyone who wants to get involved in volunteering to sign up! I can almost guarantee that you will get more back from it than you give.”

That’s certainly been the case for Lauren, who started volunteering with Social Bite in Aberdeen just over a year ago, whilst studying for her master’s degree. The great experience she’s had ultimately led her to think differently about her career path.

“I thought volunteering would be a great opportunity to give back to the local community,” she said. “It wasn’t something I’d done before, but from the start Social Bite was so warm and welcoming. The staff and other volunteers are great, and since that first shift it’s always been a fantastic experience.

“Volunteering has become part of my weekly routine. It’s great getting to know everyone and become a friendly face in the community. Volunteering at Social Bite made me realise I wanted to pursue a career in supporting others, and I’ve since started a role that will allow me to do this.”

 

Why volunteers matter to people who use Social Bite’s services

“I love the volunteers and the Social Bite team,” an attendee of Aberdeen’s free food service told us. “The volunteers talk to everyone, and it feels like such a relaxed time – I always feel safe. I’m even looking to volunteer too because I enjoy coming along so much. If everyone helped one person every day, it would be a better country.”

Volunteers contribute so much to Social Bite. As well helping with tasks like serving teas and coffees, or delivering Christmas donations, they bring a range of expertise and interests that make Social Bite services more diverse.  Exposure to new ideas and viewpoints helps us all understand each other better and find new opportunities.

Paul, Aberdeen’s Development and Support Worker, explains why Social Bite’s projects and services benefit from volunteers. “Volunteers bring loads of skills and experience. They often have a fresh perspective on things, and their friendly enthusiasm is everything to the people we work with. When you’re experiencing homelessness, social isolation is very common. Volunteers provide opportunities to build meaningful relationships by having a relaxed, informal chat.”

 

Could you be a volunteer?

We’re looking for volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, interests and experiences. We’d particularly like to hear from you if you’re in Aberdeen!

If you’re inspired to volunteer, enquire today at volunteering@social-bite.co.uk.