Volunteer with us

Our wonderful volunteers are the heart of what we do and without them, we couldn’t do the work we do to get people housed.

Volunteering brings new experiences, new friends, new skills and a chance to give back. Maybe you can give us two hours a week to help out.

Every single one of our volunteers brings a talent or skill which we can use. We’re blessed to have so many fantastic people on our team. We’d love to welcome you too!

You can choose to volunteer in our support centre in the morning, helping people get a breakfast, shower, support getting off the streets and accessing healthcare. We are also always looking for volunteers to help out with the vital behind the scenes work in our office. In addition we always need volunteers for prayer and the God Slot.

You don’t need to be a Christian to volunteer but we do ask for people to be sympathetic and respectful of our Christian values.

The process is simple: complete this form and we will get in touch with you to let you know whether we have any suitable opportunities. Before you can start to volunteer there is a is a short interview to make sure that volunteering at Barnabus is right for you and a taster session to give you a chance to decide for yourself that you are happy to continue. Once those are done, we offer you training and help with applying for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check for working with vulnerable adults.

Having a conviction is not a bar to volunteering at Barnabus; if you want to talk to us about any issues before you decide to apply, contact Neil Cornthwaite for a chat by emailing [email protected].

How to apply

Thank you so much for wanting to volunteer with us. However for the time being we are unable to accept any more volunteers. Please check back soon

To apply to volunteer with us please fill out this form.

Current Volunteer Roles

Early Morning Outreach Volunteer

Rough Sleeper Early Morning Breakfast Volunteer

Rough Sleeper Morning Support Session Volunteer

Supported Living Projects Outreach Volunteer

God Slot Session Volunteer

Worship Leader Volunteer

Piccadilly Prayer Outreach Volunteer

Latest

Stand up for asylum with Refugee Action

The week of 18th-26th October 2021 was a week of action to stop the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill. So, we thought it would be fitting to make this week’s blog about all the people we support who are within the asylum process.
Barnabus' 30th Anniversary

The year is 1991. The UK is in the grip of an economic recession and about to have its coldest winter since the 80s. A Christian couple, Peter and Beryl, have just arrived in Manchester’s city centre to see a show. As they head to the theatre, they’re shocked to see the number of people sleeping rough under bridges and in shop doorways. The very next week, they’ll visit again with sandwiches and flasks – and the seed that became Barnabus will be planted…
Barnabus turns 30! Will you help us mark this occasion?

The year is 1991. The UK is in the grip of an economic recession and about to have its coldest winter since the 80s. A Christian couple, Peter and Beryl, have just arrived in Manchester’s city centre to see a show. As they head to the theatre, they’re shocked to see the number of people sleeping rough under bridges and in shop doorways. The very next week, they’ll visit again with sandwiches and flasks – and the seed that became Barnabus will be planted…
Bill's Abbey Dash

A 10km race - to raise funds for the Cold Weather Appeal.

Stand up for asylum with Refugee Action

The week of 18th-26th October 2021 was a week of action to stop the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill. So, we thought it would be fitting to make this week’s blog about all the people we support who are within the asylum process.
Barnabus' 30th Anniversary

The year is 1991. The UK is in the grip of an economic recession and about to have its coldest winter since the 80s. A Christian couple, Peter and Beryl, have just arrived in Manchester’s city centre to see a show. As they head to the theatre, they’re shocked to see the number of people sleeping rough under bridges and in shop doorways. The very next week, they’ll visit again with sandwiches and flasks – and the seed that became Barnabus will be planted…
Supporting a friend fleeing from sex work

Helen* visited our Beacon Support Centre for the first time in September 2021. She had recently fled from her partner, who had been forcing her into sex work to fund his substance addiction. When Helen decided enough was enough, she left her partner and their home. After two nights sleeping rough on the streets of Manchester, she turned to us for help
Helping a friend escape her traumatic past

Hannah* came to our service for the first time in early July 2021. She was in a very vulnerable position having recently fled a violent situation from her ex-partner. In this blog, case worker Eleisha shares Hannah’s story…
Three years on: Meeting a friend again after money troubles

We first met Phil* back in 2018. He entered our resettlement scheme, where we managed to secure him a flat with his very own tenancy. Through a supporting company, we were even able to arrange a trial shift for a new job – and he had been on their books ever since. But in 2021, things started to take a turn for the worse.
From rough sleeping, trauma, prison and addiction to thriving in a home of his own

Alan* had recently left prison when he came to see us for support. Before that, he had been sleeping in a tent for four years. He met Jenna, one of our case workers, and she was able to refer him to some temporary accommodation in Oldham. Alan was very grateful to have a more solid roof over his head, but he did struggle with the distance because he has some contact with his family based in Manchester. That’s when Aimee, our Resettlement Tenancy Worker, met Alan.
Helping a friend continue in their recovery

Unfortunately, addiction affects many of the friends we support. In some cases, our friends find themselves misusing substances after they become street homeless, yet Simon’s* situation is a little different.
From desperation to life changing support and new found hope

When our stories converged, Robin had been in and out of different accommodation, mainly due to his behaviour when under the influence of alcohol. He was between places at this point, sleeping on the streets as everyone was told to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. In this blog, we trace Robin’s story from his Beacon visits to his admission to a mental health and substance misuse facility.
The journey of Recovery can often be two steps forward and one step back, that’s why we never give up

Many of our friends have had a traumatic past and can take drink or drugs as a way to escape from those memories or the harsh realities of rough sleeping. They may also struggle with challenging mental health conditions. At times even though they receive support and encouragement they can sadly take two steps forward and then one step back. We understand this and we are always here to support and empower our friends on their difficult journey towards new hope, new homes and a new life.
Your donations help Chris make a house a home

Chris* came to us in autumn 2020. He had been street homeless for two nights following the breakdown of his relationship with his partner, which was caused by losing his job at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Donate Items

As an essential service we are very much open please support our work with donations of the items we are short of but need to run our service everyday. You can also support us through our amazon wish list or through shopping vouchers.
Volunteer with us

Our wonderful volunteers are the heart of what we do and without them, we couldn’t do the work we do to get people housed. We have volunteers from all over Greater Manchester, as well as Cheshire and Lancashire, all age groups and all walks of life.
Homelessness in Manchester

If you’ve walked the streets of Manchester, you’ve almost certainly passed by a rough sleeper. In fact, you’ve probably noticed that there are more people living and sleeping out on the streets. In 2010, the official rough sleeper figure was 7. In 2018, it was 94. Unfortunately, we know that in reality, the number is much higher. Please read on to find out more about homelessness in our city.
Tour De Manc, 1st May 2022

The Tour De Manc is a proper Manchester cycling challenge for cyclists of all abilities from the occasional weekend warrior with a "Half Manc" 100km route all the way up to the fitness fanatic "Mad Manc" 200km Route.
RENU Upcycling Furniture Project

Beautifully upcycled furniture for your home, from someone without one. Our upcycling project is all about upskilling our friends to empower them back into work.
In The Box with Marcus Rashford

Launched on Thursday 17th October, ‘In-The-Box’ is a Christmas campaign created by Manchester United and England International footballer Marcus Rashford to support some of Manchester’s biggest frontline services for those experiencing homelessness – Barnabus, Centrepoint, and Lifeshare.
Our history

It all started in 1991 with one man, some sandwiches and a flask of hot coffee. Walking the streets of Manchester, our founder Peter Green could not believe that there were people on his doorstep who had nothing. So, with a little help from his Christian faith, he set out to do something. Luckily, Peter and his wife Beryl had plenty of love – and sandwiches – to share.
How we're helping

The stress and anxiety people can suffer when they are homeless means they often feel afraid to reach out and taking that small step towards getting help can seem like a mammoth task. That’s why our team is there to help from the start, giving tailored support and advice every single step of the way.
Helping a friend escape her traumatic past

Hannah* came to our service for the first time in early July 2021. She was in a very vulnerable position having recently fled a violent situation from her ex-partner. In this blog, case worker Eleisha shares Hannah’s story…
Barnabus' 30th Anniversary

This year is our 30th Anniversary of supporting rough sleepers and people experiencing homelessness. We’ve come up with 30 Ideas for 30 years there’s something in here for everyone; volunteering, fundraising ideas, donations and corporate support we would also love to hear and celebrate any ideas you may have.