Christmas Day Tasks

Norwich Open Christmas serves over 500 people each year, so there are lots of tasks to carry out and there is never a dull moment. If you're a dab hand at making a cup of tea, love organising clothes and food, or wash up quicker than a dishwasher, then we need you!

There are lots of tasks that need completing on the big day itself. When you select your tasks for Christmas day, please only select those within your physical capabilities. Each section of tasks is overseen by a coordinator, so if you have any questions on the day about your task, there will be someone on hand to give advice and support.

Reception desk - 09:30 to close

Marking volunteers as 'arrived' or 'left'

Marking all registered volunteers as 'arrived' as they arrive, handing out their Norwich Open Christmas name badge, directing them to the crypt for their cloakroom and briefing meeting.
Marking volunteers as 'left' when they have finished their shift. This is an important job as it enables us to know who is in the hall in the event of an emergency, and sending out thank you letters.

Meet and greet - 11:00 to 14:00

Meeting and greeting

Meet and greet our guests as they arrive, making them feel welcome and valued.
Taking our guests to a table, making sure they are comfortable and that there is another volunteer to care for them.

Drinks table - 10:00 to 17:00

Serving

Making cold drinks, cups of tea and coffee, for our 'Drinks to table' team of volunteers to take to guests at their tables.

Refilling urns

Carrying water in watercarriers from the Crypt kitchen to the refreshment table to fill up the hot-water urns.
This task is in 1 hour shifts.

Runner for mugs

Transferring dirty mugs to the Crypt kitchen for washing and returning clean mugs to the refreshment table.
Replenishing the refreshment table with bottles of cold drinks which are stored in the Crypt.
This task is in 1 hour shifts.

Mug washing and drying

Washing and drying of mugs from the refreshment table to ensure that there is always a supply of clean mugs.
This task takes place in the Crypt kitchen.
This task is in 1 hour shifts.

Drinks to table - 11:00 to 17:00

Serving

This team of volunteers keep our guests supplied with tea, coffee, cold drinks and biscuits during the event.
The team take orders from the guests at the table and request the order from the refreshments table.

Christmas lunch - 12:00 to 14:30

A meeting is held prior to lunch to inform volunteers of the area they are allocated to. The tasks may take up to two hours and if you select one of these you must continue until all guests have been served with lunch and pudding.

Waiting on tables

Being a waiter/waitress to our guests.
You will need to be able to carry up to two plates of Christmas lunch and up to 6 dishes of Christmas puddings on a tray from the serving station to guests at their table without need for support.
St Andrews Hall is divided into 7 areas (each given a colour). Each area contains approximately 5 tables of 14 guests.

Dishing up

Placing the Christmas lunch on plates - there are 4 hot trolleys, each with a part of the meal.
You will be standing in one place for at least 1 hour.

Kitchen runners

Transferring the hot food from the kitchen to the hot trolleys.
This is a strenuous task and requires carrying heavy containers.

Christmas afternoon tea - 14:30 to 16:00

Preparation (14:30)

Slicing the Christmas cakes and arranging on trays with mince pies.

Serving (15:30)

Taking Christmas tea trays to the guests at their tables.

Stewarding - 10:00 to 17:00 (all shifts are 1 hour)

St Andrew's main door

Keeping an eye on guests coming into St Andrews Hall to ensure they do not bring alcohol in, as well as to give assistance to any volunteer if needed.

Volunteers entrance

Making sure that anyone who comes through this entrance is a registered volunteer.

Blackfriar's Hall inside

Checking that only people with registered volunteer badges are allowed into Blackfriars.

St Andrews Hall reception

Checking that only people with registered volunteer badges are allowed into the reception area and beyond.

St Andrews Hall Cloisters

Up until we allow guests to chose clothing, checking that only people with registered volunteer badges are allowed into the cloisters.

St Andrews Hall forecourt (car park)

Ensuring the car park is only used for dropping off and picking up of guests whom we have transported to St Andrews Hall, this is so that there is always access for emergency vehicles.
Keeping an area of the car park clear for use by the DPV.
Keeping an eye on guests outside St Andrews Hall to ensure good order.

Volunteer cloakroom (the Crypt)

Ensuring the security of volunteer’s belongings that have been left in the cloakroom.

Food bags - 10:00 onwards

Final sorting, date checking and bagging up (morning only)

Final sorting and date checking of donated food.
Making up food bags so that our guests can take them away when they leave - some bags will be for specific dietary or medical requirements, such as vegetarian food only or diabetic friendly food.

Food bag distribution (afternoon only)

Six teams of volunteers will take food bags to each of the six areas of St Andrews Hall.
Once all guests have a food bag, if there are bags left over, then these will also be given to our guests.

Clothing - 10:00 onwards

Final sorting (morning only)

Bags of good condition winter weight clothing will have been dropped off on Christmas Day morning.
The clothing needs to be sorted and placed in the designated areas in the Cloisters under the guidance of our clothing coordinator.

Distribution (afternoon only)

To assist guests in selecting clothing and trying to keep the cloisters tidy.

Kitchen - 13:00 to 17:00

Washing up

Washing up of crockery and cutlery from the lunch.

This task takes place in the main kitchen in 1 hour shifts.

Drying up

Drying up of crockery and cutlery from the lunch.
This task takes place in the main kitchen in 1 hour shifts.

Transport - 10:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 17:00

If you select any of these tasks, our coordinators will contact you to make the necessary arrangements. Find out more about being a driver or escort here.

Driver AM

Transporting guests from their home to St Andrews Hall.

Driver PM

Transporting guests from St Andrews Hall to their home.

Escort AM

Helping drivers with the guests they pick up.

Escort PM

Helping drivers with the guests they take home.

Skills and experience

Whilst you don't need any special skills or experience to complete any of the Christmas Day tasks, if you do have specific knowledge, qualifications or experience in certain areas, then please let us know in your application form as they may come in handy!

Chef, cook or kitchen assistant

With 500 meals needing to be cooked, experience catering for large numbers of people is welcome

Child welfare/care or social worker/teacher

We have lots of children attend Norwich Open Christmas, so it is great to have volunteers experience in working with children on hand
Must have current DBS/CRB

First aider/medic

Current first aid training or medic expertise would be desirable in case of emergency

Security/police officer

Security/police training can be helpful for stewarding

Samaritan

Our guests may be in a vulnerable position, so samaritan experience is very welcome

Lorry, bus or DPV driver

Driving experience is very helpful for the transport task

Receptionist

Our reception desk needs to be meticulously manned so that we have an accurate record of who is in St Andrews Hall in case of emergency