Thousands of people from across the country are proving that it is the season of good will by sacrificing their Christmas to help others. Volunteers putting people before their turkey dinner include an ex-mortuary assistant from Cambridgeshire and a 21-year old from Nottingham, both supporting homeless projects, as well as a 19 year old from Durham spending the day at an old people’s home and an 18 year old from Austria looking after a paralysed woman in Luton. 

Former mortuary assistant and interior designer, 26 year old Athena Aitcheson from Ely, Cambridgeshire is a CSV gap year volunteer. Athena will be spending Christmas helping homeless people at the West London Day Centre in Marylebone.

Athena says: “For me Christmas is all about helping people, not spending loads of money or over indulging. I support homeless men, helping them with their laundry, making sure those in need of medical care see a nurse and also being a friend for those worried about seeing a counsellor.

“Some people just don’t want to talk, so I’ve learnt not to push conversations.  Everyone has a different story. I’ve come to see the men at the centre as individuals rather than ‘the homeless’.”

Vicky Powers, a 21 year old Agents4Change volunteer from Nottingham, organises projects in Sheffield for other young people. Vicky will be volunteering between Christmas and New Year at Sheffield Cathedral helping homeless people. She is being supported to do this by Tesco and youth volunteering charity, v. Vicky will prepare and serve breakfast and lunch, organise dentist drop in sessions, hair cuts and chiropody check ups as well as spending the day socialising with homeless people who visit the Cathedral.

A CSV volunteer veteran at only 19 years of age, Keely Madgin from Durham will be volunteering at a local older people’s home over Christmas.

Keeley says: “I’ll be spending time with the older people and making sure they have someone to talk to. I’ll be singing carols but Ill be making a real effort to share a chat and a cuppa with everyone. I’ve been volunteering since I was 11 and I think the best thing about volunteering is that you get to give something back. It really is the most rewarding thing you can do.”

Caroline Salcher, an 18 year old from Salzburg in Austria will remain in the UK this Christmas to support Barbara Austin, a 62 year old from Luton and a Trustee of CSV, who was paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident more than 25 years ago.

Caroline says: “Even though it’s sad not to spend Christmas with my family, I will have other opportunities in the future so I think it is more important for me to volunteer. The plan is to have Christmas dinner with Barbara’s family. The day might be a little bit stressful but it will be interesting to see how Christmas is celebrated in England. I have enjoyed my volunteering so far and this will be good experience for me as I plan to study social work at university.”

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For further press information: CSV Press Office: Paul Donohoe 020 7812 0037/07779 624 385 pdonohoe@csv.org.uk or Jason Tanner on 020 7812 1338 jtanner@csv.org.uk

Notes for Editors

1) CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. In 2006/7 229,869 people gave time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trained 12,309 people of all ages and linked 29,000 people to learning through BBC Local Radio.