Norwich Open Christmas
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Christmas Day - Tasks

Select only tasks within your physical capabilities.  Each section of tasks is overseen by a co-ordinator.  We are often asked what clothing volunteers should wear;  comfortable clothing and we suggest flat enclosed footwear especially in the kitchen, refreshment area and serving lunch.
​Drinks Table - 10am to 5pm
Serving - Making cups of tea and coffee, cold drinks for our "Drinks to Table" team of volunteers to take to guests at their tables.
Refilling Urns/Runner for mugs - Carrying water in Water-carriers from the Crypt kitchen to the Refreshment table to fill up the hot-water urns as requested by  servers.  Transferring dirty mugs to the Crypt kitchen for washing, and returning clean mugs.  Replenishing the refreshment table with bottles of cold drinks which are stored in the Crypt .   In 1 hr shifts as this can be a tiring task.            
Mug washing/drying - Takes place in the Crypt Kitchen.  Washing and drying of mugs from the refreshment table to ensure that they always have a supply of clean mugs.  In 1 hour shifts.

Drinks to Table - 11am to 5pm
"Drinks to Table" team of volunteers keep our guests supplied with tea/coffee/cold drinks and biscuits during the event.

Christmas Lunch - 12noon to 2:30pm - 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/up to 6 dishes of Christmas puddings, on a tray from the serving station to guests at their table without need for support.   The hall is divided into 7 areas(each given a colour), approximately 5 tables of 14 guests.
Dishing up - Placing the 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 an 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 Tea - 2:30pm to 4pm​
Preparation in Blackfriars (2:30pm) - Slicing of Christmas cakes and arranging on trays with mince pies.
Serving (3:30pm) - Taking Christmas tea trays to the same areas as allocated for waiting on tables.

​Stewarding - 10am to 5pm - all tasks will be 1 hour shifts
St Andrew's main door - To generally keep an eye on guests coming into St Andrew’s to ensure they do not bring alcohol in, to give assistance to any volunteer if needed.
Blackfriar's volunteers entrance - Checking 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 Andrew's to Reception - Checking that only people with registered volunteer badges are allowed into reception and beyond. 
St Andrew's to Cloisters - Up until we allow guests to chose clothing, checking that only people with registered volunteer badges are allowed into the cloisters.
Car Park - There must always be access for emergency vehicles. To ensure that the car park is only used for dropping off and picking up of guests whom we have transported to St Andrew’s.  To keep an area of the car park clear for use by the DPV.  To generally keep an eye on guests outside St Andrew’s to ensure good order.
Cloakroom (volunteers) - To ensure the security of volunteer’s belongings that have been left in their cloakroom.
Food Sorting - 10am onwards
Final Sorting/date checking and bagging up (am only) - Date checking all food that was not done on Christmas Eve and has been brought in on Christmas Day.  Once this is done the task of making up 500 food bags, some of which will be for vegetarians, diabetics.
Food bag distribution (mid pm only) - Six teams of volunteers will take food bags to each of the six areas of St Andrew’s Hall according to their table colour.  Once all guests have a food bag, if there are bags left over, then these will also be given to our guests.

Clothing - 10am onwards
Final sorting (am only) - Bags of good condition winter weight clothing will have been dropped off on Christmas Day morning.  This needs to be sorted and placed in the designated areas in the Cloisters under the guidance of our Clothing Co-ordinator.
Distribution (pm only) - To assist guests in selecting clothing and trying to keep the cloisters tidy.  Handing out plastic bags to assist our guests.

Kitchen (Main) - 1pm to 5pm
Washing up - Takes place in the main Kitchen.  Washing up of crockery and cutlery from the lunch.  There will be 500 sets each comprising plate, dish, knife, fork and spoon.  In 1 hour shifts.            
Drying up - Takes place in the main Kitchen.  Drying up of crockery and cutlery from the lunch.  There will be 500 sets each comprising plate, dish, knife, fork and spoon.  In 1 hour shifts.

Meet and Greet - 11am to 2pm
Meeting and greeting our guests as they arrive, making them feel welcome and valued,  taking them to a table and making them comfortable and making sure that there is another volunteer to care for them.

Reception Desk - 9:30am until close 
Marking (by computer) as arrived all registered volunteers as they arrive, handing out their NOC name badge, directing them to the crypt for their cloakroom and briefing meeting.  Marking volunteers as left when they have finished.  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.

Transport - 10am to 12noon and 3pm to 5pm
If you select any of these tasks, our co-ordinators will contact you to make all necessary arrangements.
Driver AM - Transporting guests who have requested transport to St Andrew’s Hall.
Driver PM - Transporting guests who request transport home from St Andrew’s 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

Specific :
  • Chef, Cook  - Experience of catering for large numbers.
  • Kitchen Assistant - To assist the chefs with preparation and clearing in the kitchen.
  • Child Welfare - Must have current DBS/CRB.
  • First Aider - Current First aid training.
  • Medic -  Doctor, Nurse etc.   
  • Security - Security training.
Other e.g. :
  • Samaritan
  • Lorry or Bus or DPV driver
  • Accountant
  • Solicitor
  • Receptionist
  • Teacher
  • Police Officer
  • Social Worker
  • Care Worker



A Celebration for anyone Alone or Homeless

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Charity No. 1155547

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