Driver volunteer role

Christmas Cheer 2025

Join our volunteer family

Each year, our small team at Marmalade HQ are overwhelmed with how many kind people offer their time to support their community. Through our Christmas Cheer and Marmalade Connections projects, we reach out to those most at risk of loneliness, guiding them to vital support and empowering them to make new friendships and connections.

Joining us as a volunteer not only changes lives but also offers a chance to forge lasting friendships, enjoy meaningful experiences, and truly connect with your community. We are so grateful for the kindness and generosity of our volunteers, many of whom have been with us since the beginning! Marmalade volunteers say they feel supported and valued and enjoy meeting new, like-minded people.

Volunteers are at the heart of our Marmalade family, and we could not do what we do without you!

Role outline

As a Driver Volunteer, you will be responsible for collecting project members (our service users) from their home on Christmas Day and driving them to one of our host venues in Bristol, South Gloucestershire or North Somerset (typically a pub or restaurant). You will return to collect the project member(s) at the end of their meal and drive them home again. This role is suited to volunteers who can spare approximately one hour in the morning (approx 11:00-12:00) and one hour in the afternoon (approx 14:00-15:00) on Christmas Day. This may vary depending on distance to travel and timings of meal.

Our project members

Our Marmalade project members vary in age and ability, but all experience social isolation and/or loneliness and would otherwise be on their own on Christmas Day. Some of our members are not used to engaging with people so they will require a friendly face and supportive and reassuring volunteers around them.

Role criteria

Essential - You must:

Be over 18
Be a car driver with a clean driving licence
Have access to an insured car on Christmas day (25th December)
Be able to support the project members in and out of the vehicle and to and from the house/venue (no manual handling)
Be able to drive within the Bristol, South Gloucestershire or North Somerset area
Be able to give two suitable references for a reference check
Be able to complete an original photo ID check (ideally driving license).

Please note, it would be desirable (but not essential) for you to have:

A 5-door car
The ability to take more than one project member
Space to take a mobility aid such as a walker (although not all project members require this).

Commitment required

November 2025

Attend an online training session to give you information on your role and how to support project member(s).

December 2025

By early December - receive confirmation on project members, venue location and relevant contact details. This might be earlier, depending on referrals.
Phone project members to introduce yourself as their driver volunteer for Christmas Day.
By mid-December - call your project members to remind them about the meal and agree on transport arrangements and timings. You could call them a few times in December to help them feel reassured.

Christmas Eve

Call allocated project member(s) to remind / confirm the time you will be picking them up the next day.

Christmas Day Event

Collect project members at approximately 11:00/11:30 from their home (depending on location/time required to support project members).
Support project members to your car – ensuring they have locked up the house; have their keys/mobility aid and any medications required.
Drive project members to the venue and support them from the car into the venue. Driving Volunteers will then leave and return later.
At approximately 14:00/14:30 you will return to the venue to take your project members home.
Once you have taken your project members home, confirm this with the Event Coordinator or Venue lead volunteer by text message.

Between Christmas and New Year

Call project member(s) to check in and wish them a Happy New Year.

What we offer

You will make a difference to the lives of people experiencing loneliness on Christmas Day in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset
You will be part of a Christmas meal which is often a catalyst for change for many of our members to reconnect with their communities
You will be a valued part of our Marmalade family.

How to apply

If you meet the essential criteria above and would like to volunteer with us, please complete the volunteer form on our website here. If you have any queries about the roles, please contact

Email: Christmas@marmaladetrust.org | Phone: 07942 359343

Once your application has been received, we will aim to contact you within 10 days to confirm availability and discuss your role. Your patience is appreciated as we are a small team. Do check your email/ junk mail and make us a safe sender.

Please note: this role is now full. To join as a backup driver, please email us. You can also volunteer with our year-round Marmalade Connections project.