About volunteering at Wycombe Homeless Connection

We're currently paused for new applications and will reopen in early September when you can volunteer to help at our Winter Night Shelter.

Sign up to our emails to hear about the night shelter and others ways to get involved in ending homelessness in our community.

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Do you have a heart for helping? You might have a range of skills or would like to build more and gain experience. You might have a few hours to give regularly or are looking for a chance to volunteer at certain times in the year.

Our volunteers need to be over 18 years old*, will complete a criminal record self-disclosure form and depending on the role may undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Volunteers need to provide relevant references so we can make safe recruitment decisions.

*For now, we are developing a youth volunteering programme!

Winter Night Shelter

It takes hundreds of volunteers to make our life-saving winter night shelter happen.

It opens in January, February and March 2026 offering a safe place to stay and help to leave homelessness behind for people with no other options.

If you're already a volunteer, we will be in touch in early September for you to yell us how you want to help.

If you want to join our volunteer team, sign up for our emails, or come back on 8th September when we are re-opening our volunteer applications.

Client-facing roles

Work directly with the people we serve, during the day in our Support Centre in Wycombe, at drop-in sessions in other locations, or answering our homelessness helpline. Alternatively, help at our Plug In evening sessions. You can join our outreach project or be asked to drive a client to an appointment and accompany them to meetings where they need support.

These roles tend to require a commitment of a few hours a week on a regular basis.

Fundraising and raising awareness

Do you love meeting people, or like to get creative? Share the word about the help and hope we offer, and help raise money for our work. You might be part of a team staffing a stand at community events, stewarding our own Big Sleepout, helping with bucket collections at local events, decorating Christmas trees in the festive season and more. We provide the support and you bring the enthusiasm!

Opportunities are varied and you can volunteer regularly or a few times a year.

Office and behind-the-scenes roles

Office volunteers offer a warm and helpful welcome to visitors and people calling or emailing with queries. You can take on tasks depending on what skills you have or would like to build. You might like to help sort our clothing and food donations. You can also answer our homelessness helpline and guide people to the right support.

The time commitment needed for these roles varies.

Specialist roles

If you have a skill you think you can offer do please let us know. Skills might include translation, knowledge in a legal area related to homelessness, governance, publicity, IT and more. If you are interested in being a trustee please see this page.

Making your volunteering safe and rewarding:

Training and support

You will receive a wide range of training depending on what role you take on. All volunteers will be trained in manual handling, safeguarding, key policies, supporter and client care, and confidentiality. Role-specific training will be provided as needed.

Pastoral support

It is important to us that you feel valued and heard, as the work we do can be emotionally challenging; you will be provided with pastoral support. We are always happy to hear what's on your mind, whether you feel positive or have improvements to suggest - so you will be able to speak to our dedicated volunteering coordinator.

Ready to find out more?

We are currently paused to volunteer applications while we get ready to relaunch in September 2025.

Sign up for our emails to hear about our volunteering needs and info on what to do when we re-open.

Sign up for our emails