Salford Loaves and Fishes supports people experiencing homelessness, isolation and those who are vulnerable in Salford and the surrounding area. Experiencing homelessness may mean rough sleeping, sofa surfing, in unstable accommodation, at risk of homelessness or those struggling to keep their home for any reason.

In these challenging times, as well as individuals, more families with children are affected. Immigrants and asylum seekers need our help to establish their new lives. More than ever we are dealing with the problem of food poverty – even working families are having to choose between heating and eating.

We offer lots of different services. In addition to providing meals, clothing and toiletries, we have a Drop-in Centre and a Skills for Life Centre both with support workers onsite.

How important are volunteers to Salford Loaves and Fishes?

Volunteers are extremely important to us. We receive less than 5% statutory funding and are struggling to meet our current demand. We can’t afford to employ more staff so we’re reliant on our volunteers to keep our services open.

What are some of the current volunteer opportunities available at Salford Loaves and Fishes?

We have lots of different volunteer opportunities we’re currently recruiting for. From helping in the kitchen, serving refreshments and talking to attendees, to supporting our classes/sessions or helping sort through donations and create food parcels, there really is something for everyone.

What can I expect from volunteering for Salford Loaves and Fishes?

When you volunteer with us, we want to ensure you get the best possible experience. We tend to start out by having a conversation with potential volunteers to find out where they might fit in best. The support then continues throughout your volunteering.

We’ve found from experience that our volunteers find a lot of value in working with us and seeing the people we help progress in their lives.

If you’re thinking about volunteering, this is Salford Loaves and Fishes’s message for you:

There are a lot of people who might not be living on the streets but are still experiencing homelessness. This figure is rising and the demand for services is high. Homelessness charities are facing unprecedented demand and our centres can be extremely busy (last year we recorded 131 people a day). Volunteers are more important than ever.

 

To learn more about how you can volunteer effectively, take a look at Volunteer For Good. Alternatively, you can view more organisations near you.