Support Us

WE ARE NOW RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS FOR THE COMING WINTER. Please complete this short form if you would like to volunteer/offer support.

Last winter we worked with over 100 volunteers who were integral to the running of Crossways, our emergency accommodation project that opens from November to March each year.   

Many of our volunteers are recruited through the Cambridge Churches Homelessness Project (CCHP), Street Pastors and Just Love (a student organisation). We work with people of all faiths or none and are very happy for volunteers to contact us directly.

It Takes A City works in partnership with CCHP, who support the project with additional resources to purchase food and provision of a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator to work with all members of the Crossways volunteer team. 

Crossways volunteers are a diverse group, reflecting all sectors of Cambridge society (aged 18+ due to the nature of the project). There are volunteer roles that do not require specific skills, qualifications, or experience.  

Other roles, such as our Lead Cooks (who will be expected to hold or willing to gain a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate) where we are looking for people with confidence and the ability to direct less experienced members of the team.  

Ideally, volunteers should be able to commit time to the project on a regular basis such as weekly, fortnightly, or monthly and over the entire period that the project runs, but we are happy to discuss this with individuals. 

Volunteer roles at Crossways 

Lead cooks – willing to lead a team of 1-3 kitchen assistant to prepare an evening meal for up to 25 people (served at 7pm). 

Mealtime Assistants– willing to be part of a team to prepare and host an evening meal for 7pm and clear up afterwards. 

Weekend Daytime Hosts – willing to work a 4-hour shift 10am – 2pm or 2pm -6pm on a Saturday or Sunday- involves cleaning, tidying, and interacting with guests who would like company e.g., playing Monopoly, watching TV, chatting.

Early Evening Hosts – Our early evening hosts play an important role, supporting both our daytime security team and our guests, during a part of the day when our staff team and daytime volunteers are leaving and our night time security team is arriving.  You may be required to cover the reception desk for short periods, collecting keys from guests leaving the building and handing keys to those arriving.  But much of your time will be spent chatting with guests, or supporting them with simple tasks such as setting up a new phone.  

Weekday Housekeeping Volunteers – willing to work 1-2hours on a weekday to organise laundry (both communal and guests’ personal laundry) keep the communal area and kitchen clean, sort donated food or prepare a room for a new guest. 

Other roles – we are looking to develop new roles. In previous winters guests have enjoyed a visit from a therapy dog and we would be interested if you had relevant skills that we could consider. Could you teach someone to cook a simple meal using our donated food or run an Art or craft session for our guests. Are you a professional hairdresser or fitness coach who would be willing to visit the project? We would be very willing to discuss skills that could be utilised in the project.

Donating items to support our work

We welcome donations from individuals, businesses, faith groups, student societies and others who would like to help us make a home for our guests at Crossways, support vulnerable women accessing The Haven or those on the housing journey via our Survive & Thrive service. 

We are always in need of the following; UHT milk, tinned goods, sugar, instant coffee, crisps, biscuits, chocolate, men’s deodorants, sleeping bags, warm clothing (coats, tracksuit bottoms, hoodies), but are happy to discuss any items you have available. If we receive more than we can use, we will always pass on to other local organisations working with those in need.

Please email itacdonations@itac.org.uk to arrange collection/delivery.