The Manna Society runs a day centre, based near London Bridge, that provides practical and emotional care to people who are homeless or in need. They offer hot meals, showers, clothing suppliers, computers, phone charging and nurse and chiropody care. The Manna Society’s team also provides housing and welfare advice, support with homelessness, benefits, employment and debt, as well as linking to specialised support for immigration and substance abuse.
The Manna Society supports over 100 people every day, mostly men, and about half their service users are rough sleepers. The centre is open from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm seven days a week, for 51 weeks of the year, closing only when Crisis at Christmas provides seasonal support.
Better Bankside supports The Manna Society every year through the Bankside Christmas Gift Appeal.
Opportunities to get involved
- Kitchen volunteers are needed to support the Manna Society’s team that cooks hot meals every day. The role is very practical, consisting mostly of rinsing dishes before putting them into a dishwasher. As the centre serves hot meals daily, volunteers are needed regularly. They are always keen to hear from people who can volunteer at weekends.
- Volunteers are needed to help in their IT suite, which involves setting up laptops, assisting service users with simple queries, and keeping the computer room running smoothly. Basic computer skills and a friendly attitude are all that’s needed.
- Donate food, clothing, toiletries or even second-hand mobile phones and chargers. The Manna Society keeps an updated list of items needed on its website.
- Support the Manna Society by donating or fundraising to help them deliver their vital services. It costs approximately £570,000 per year to run the centre, with only 22% of its annual income from assured funding. Opportunities to develop corporate partnerships are available for businesses that want to make a real difference to people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
