By no means a comprehensive list, but it is typical of most of the jobs in the different areas

Kitchen

• Preparing meals under the guidance of the volunteer chefs
• Using the dish washer
• Keeping kitchen clean and tidy of obstructions
• Using the serving hatch during meal times – this can be very hectic
• Sort and store donated food
• If the use by date is today’s date:
  • Put on sandwich bar if possible or
  • Cook straight away and put on sandwich bar or refrigerate or
  • If suitable for freezing, put in the freezer to be cooked the following day or
  • If none of the above are possible, then allow volunteers to take home
• Ensure fridges maintain a temperature between 0°c and 5°c
• Ensure cooked meats and raw meats are stored separately
• Ensure good food hygiene practice
• Prepare food parcels from remaining stock on the last day for guests (28^th) and move them by the clothing room
• All volunteers are required to wear blue food preparation gloves, plastic aprons and hair protection when preparing and serving food in the kitchen.
• Fire Exit at rear of kitchen – this will also be used to access the skip
• Guests are not allowed in the kitchen
• On setup day – sort and store food, cooking equipment, cleaning materials – drinks, sugar, biscuits and snacks to be stored in the tea room in the hall

Dining area

• Our busiest time is usually meal times at Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• There is seating for approximately 80 people in the dining area, use extra tables from the hall if necessary
• Prepare tables with cutlery, condiments, glasses, jugs of water/squash
• When the meals are ready to serve, ensure that all guests outside the dining area are made aware – especially guests that have just arrived
• Volunteers queue at the serving hatch and serve food to guests at tables – note any special requirements from guests – please wear plastic aprons, it is not necessary to wear food preparation gloves or hair protection.
• Collect plates, dishes, cutlery etc and take to serving hatch for washing
• Count number of guests at each sitting and report to a trustee for statistics
• After main meal and dessert – seconds if any – encourage guests to move back to the hall.
• Ask volunteers if they would like a meal after the guests have had theirs
• Clean tables and floors ready for next meal
• Dogs aren’t allowed in the dining area, so provide separate seating if necessary
• Some of our guests find it difficult to use the canteen chairs, so arrange a separate table and chair if necessary
• On Christmas Day we have festive table cloths, crackers and give out a small present to every guest
• On setup day – move vending machines back as far as possible and arrange chairs

Sandwich making

• It is important to keep the sandwich bar stocked up during the day. Use the dining area between meals for making sandwiches.
• Check with the sandwich bar team what they need and make up some trays of sandwiches.
• Remember to use food preparation gloves and aprons.
• Please bear in mind though, that any sandwiches that are not used on the day will probably be thrown away. It’s a bit of a balancing act, but please make sure the sandwich bar is not empty during the day.

Soup run

• If you wish to go on the soup run, then please find an experienced volunteer from the soup run team
• The soup run team usually depart quite late and are out for several hours
• Try to encourage rough sleepers to return to the shelter but respect their wishes if they want to stay where they are
• Take torches, some soup in flasks, sandwiches, crisps etc., torches, sleeping bags and spare clothing if available
• Set up day – torches and flasks in box ready for soup runs

Hall (Also called the Floor)

• Please note the Fire Exits at the far side of the hall. These should be kept clear of obstructions at all times.
• During the day, the hall is very busy – try to keep the area clean, return cups to the tea hatch and plates to the kitchen.
• Also use the time to keep our guests company
• Set Up day – Christmas tree in alcove, close upper window blinds so the TV can be seen, move surplus chairs out, arrange half of the hall with chairs facing the stage and tables and chairs at the back half of hall for board games

Hall - Stage

• There will be a very large TV screen, freeview box, dvd player and a karaoke machine
• Providing entertainment throughout the week is great fun for guests and volunteers! Feel free to manage any of these during your time
  • Bingo machine (to be collected from Fireside) – around 4 times per day depending on number of prizes available – allow guests to choose a wrapped up prize – red wrapping for girls, blue for boys
  • Quiz – create your own! Again allow guests to choose a wrapped up prize
  • Karaoke is very popular – the microphone can be used for announcements
  • A selection of DVD films
  • Other Entertainment – if you are able to provide entertainment of any kind then PLEASE let us know.
• Set up day – Wipe all mattresses when they arrive, store mattresses and blankets at sides of stage, store bingo machine presents in the trustees office

Hall – Sandwich Bar

• A glass fronted, refrigerated sandwich bar is hired for the week and placed outside the tea/coffee hatch
• You may be asked to manage the sandwich bar or make sandwiches during the week. This is often managed by 2 people.
• The sandwich bar can be very busy during the week and is a great way to get to know our guests.
• Place sandwich trays under the glass and nibbles, fruit etc out on the counter
• Spare sandwich trays can be stored in the cooler cabinet underneath.
• Please use food preparation gloves and wear a plastic apron when serving food. Ask what the guest would like and serve their items on a plate.
• Before bedding down, store sandwiches in the cooler box underneath, switch the counter light off – not the fridge, clean the surfaces ready for the next day and push the sandwich bar to the wall to make room for the sleeping area

Hall - Tea Hatch

• This is also a very busy area during the week. All hot and cold drinks are served from here during the week and it is also a great way of chatting with our guests.
• Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Horlicks and squash are stored and served from here.
• Also use this area to store dry foods for the sandwich bar – such as crisps, biscuits etc.
• Hot water is provided in electric and gas heated urns. So please be careful when working in this room.
• At bedtime, close the hatch, switch off the hot water heaters and lights
• Set up day – store all drinks, sugar and dry snacks here, as well as the hot water urns.

Hall – Night shift

• Around 10pm/11pm the hall is converted into a sleeping area for male guests that are staying over – there is a separate sleeping area for female guests
• Close the tea hatch and switch off hot water heaters, move the sandwich bar back and switch off the counter light, switch off the TV if it is on
• Ask guests to move to the sides of the hall and stack all chairs and tables.
• Sweep the central area ready for the mattresses
• Carefully place mattresses so the fire exits, stairs to the stage and entrance doors are kept clear. Leave some room and spare mattresses for guests arriving during the night
• Once all the mattresses are laid out, hand out the blankets. There should be enough for at least 2 blankets each
• The female sleeping area is the room next to the clothing room, so mattresses and blankets will need to be carried round
• Once everyone has settled, turn off the lights and close the doors. Ensure a volunteer sits with the guests during the night in case there is an emergency.
• Around 7am/8am, start to gently wake everyone up. Collect mattresses and fold blankets (note that some blankets may belong to the guests) and store on the stage. If any blankets need cleaning, then bag them and arrange to take them to the launderette at the row of shops outside the college
• Sweep the central area during breakfast and place out chairs and tables.
• If any guests arrive during the night, invite them to sit in the dining area, offer them a hot drink and food from the kitchen, then find a place in the sleeping area.
• Guests are allowed to go outside during the night for a break, but will be need to be searched when they re-enter the building.
• If a guest is unable to sleep or is causing a disturbance in the sleeping area, then ask them if they would like to sit in the dining area for a while.
• On the last night shift (27^th), raffle tickets for clothing will be handed out to all of our guests that are sleeping over so they will have first choice of clothing. To make it fair, fold the tickets into a tin and ask the guest to take a ticket.

Reception Area

• This is the only entrance for all our guests and volunteers.
• Security will be stationed here at all times.
• The corner office will be used by the trustees, landline calls will be re-directed to this office.
• You may be asked to sit by the entrance to welcome all volunteers. Please ensure that all volunteers sign the register and are given a name label. If the volunteer is new then guide them to a trustee or area supervisor or an experienced volunteer.
• If you need to store your coat, then please ask a member of security to open the volunteer cloakroom located at the end of the hallway. Please take a red t-shirt but please remember to return the t-shirt at the end of your last shift.
• No smoking on the premises, there is an allocated smoking area by the park wall
• Please do not store any guest valuables – guests valuables are the responsibility of the guest
• Fire exit is the main entrance door
• On set up day – arrange tables and chairs for security and volunteer register, first aid in trustees office, log books in trustees office, name labels and marker pens for security and volunteers

Toilets

• The toilets are located in reception for volunteers and guests.
• Please monitor and clean the toilets occasionally but be aware of sharps – sharps boxes are provided.

Caretakers Office / Induction Room

• The caretaker’s office is located at the end of hall next to the induction room.
• The caretakers will need to access this room at all times – so please do not block the door
• The induction room will be closed over Christmas

Cloakroom / Cleaning Store

• At the entrance to the male showers, there is a cloakroom for volunteers. This will be kept locked and security will keep the key. Volunteer Red T-Shirts are also stored here.
• Further along the corridor is a room where we store all our cleaning materials – mops, brooms, chemicals etc.
• Set up day – store red t-shirts in the cloakroom, move all cardio equipment in the cloakroom to the back, put 2 clothing racks in the cloakroom, store floor cleaning materials in the store room in the corridor between the male and female showers

Showers

• During the week, daily waiting lists for the showers will be available for the guests.
• When the guest is ready, ensure that 2 volunteers (males for male guests, females for female guests) escort the guest to the male or female showers. This is for the safety of the guest and the volunteers.
  • Hand the guest a towel and toiletries – shower gel, razors etc.
  • Demonstrate how the showers work if necessary
  • Ask the guest to leave used towels in the linen basket/bag and dispose of razors in the sharps box when finished.
  • Wait outside the door until the guest has finished using the showers.
  • Collect unused toiletries back – except for bars of soap which the guests can keep.
  • Guide the guest to the hall and call for the next guest on the list
• Busy times – note that there will be no showers during busy times, such as meal times, or when there is a shortage of volunteers
• Set up day - share towels, toiletries, mirrors, portable heaters, linen baskets/bags and a sharps box between the male and female showers. If there are any toiletries suitable for bingo prizes, then wrap them in Christmas paper and place in the bingo basket

Daily waiting lists / Special Services Room

• We have daily waiting lists for showers and services such as dentist, hairdressing, chiropodist, doctor, outreach, nurse, etc.
• This year (2007) we have a separate room for services during the day – this room is located past the showers
• You may be asked to look after a daily waiting list. This is a very important job during the week and is a great way to meet our guests.
  • Check the timetable to see what services and timeslots are available. Check that no-one else is managing the list.
  • Collect a clipboard from the trustee’s office and ask guests if they would like to be on the list for the service – many guests will already know about the services and will look for you so they can be on the list
  • Ensure that guests are escorted to the showers or services room in turn – note that it can be difficult to find some guests, they might have left the premises and be back in later, so it might be necessary to make allowances
  • Also bear in mind that if you need to pass on the list to another volunteer, then the other volunteer might not know what the guest looks like
  • It is very important to take responsibility for the list – many of our guests are dependent on the voluntary services that we offer – if you need to leave and there are still people on the list, then please tell a trustee and we will pass the list onto another volunteer
  • Once the waiting list or service has finished, again it is very important to give the trustees a count of the number of guests that used the service. We use these statistics to compare with previous years and it helps us to see which services are vital for our guests. It also helps us with fund raising.
• Set up day – clipboards, blank waiting lists and services timetable in the trustees office – arrange chairs/tables for special services
• Female sleeping area – The services room will be used as the female sleeping area at night – please ensure this room is clean and clear before and after sleeping. Female guests are not allowed to sleep here during the day – also ensure the clothing room is locked at night

Clothing

• This year (2007) we are able to use a separate room for clothing. This is located in the room past the showers.
• During the week, clothing will be donated by volunteers. Bring all clothing to this room to be sorted.
• Sort during the week into clothing type – shirts, trousers, shoes, etc. and into sizes within type – and use labels for sizes
• Bag any dirty or unsuitable clothing ready for the rag man
• Clothing rails will be available. Use spare desks from the hall.
• On the last night/day (28^th) guests will be given a raffle ticket and be brought round to the clothing room – guests staying overnight will receive their tickets first
• This year (2007) we are very lucky to have backpacks to give to every guest. Give the backpack to a guest before they choose their clothing.
• Escort one guest at a time around the clothing area and help guests to choose items. The amount of clothing guests can take will depend on the amount of clothing we have available, and so will be decided nearer the date.
• On the last day – also sort all spare food and toiletries into food/toiletry bags and give them to the guests as they leave the building
• Presents and bingo prizes – use this area to wrap presents for Christmas day and for bingo prizes – blue wrapping for boys, red for girls
• Set up day – hangers, clothing rails clothing, labels and marker pens into the clothing area
• Clear away day – bag all surplus clothing for the rag man

Clear away

• Take everything back to Access – take care not to take St Georges items
• Clean areas at St Georges - all rooms, showers, toilets, kitchen and also outside areas such as the smoking area and the park area
• Open the blinds in the hall

Dogs

• Dogs are allowed but they must be kept on a lead and are the responsibility of the guest. They won’t be allowed into the dining room though, so the guest may need a separate seating area outside the dining area.
• Dog food and dishes are also available

Emergencies

• If there is an incident or emergency then please do not get involved – first tell security and then tell a trustee – security will clear the area if necessary and take appropriate action
• If there is a first aid emergency, again tell security or a trustee straight away
• If a person appears to be having an epileptic fit, ask someone to tell security or a trustee, clear the area of any objects and people, gently place a makeshift cushion under their head, and wait until the fit stops. Please do not put anything into their mouth and if possible, make a note of how long the fit lasted.
• If a person has stopped breathing, tell security or a trustee immediately. The most recent guidance for CPR is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths – pocket masks are available.
• Some guests may need their dressings changed, we have some volunteer nurses during the week who will be able to do this. Please check the timetable.