Thirteen years of volunteering with Thames Reach: Huon’s story
4 June 2026
Huon shares why supporting people experiencing homelessness has remained an important part of his life over the years
When Huon first started volunteering with Thames Reach more than a decade ago, London’s homelessness landscape looked very different.
Since then, he has spent years supporting outreach teams across London, most recently volunteering with our City Outreach team. Along the way, he has witnessed changes in homelessness services, worked alongside dedicated staff and volunteers, and remained committed to supporting people experiencing homelessness.
But for Huon, volunteering has always been about more than giving his time.
A lifelong commitment
Originally from Australia, Huon spent much of his working life in Italy, where he volunteered with organisations supporting refugees, people experiencing homelessness and others facing hardship.
“I’ve worked with marginalised groups since I was at school, university, so quite a long time,” he says.
After moving to the UK in 2012, where he works at a hospital in South London, he began volunteering with Thames Reach and has continued ever since.
For Huon, working with people facing homelessness has reinforced a simple truth.
“A marginalised person or a homeless person is very similar, whether they’re in Indonesia, whether they’re in Italy, whether they’re in London, or in Australia where I come from.”
Why volunteering matters
Asked what has kept him volunteering for so many years, Huon reflects on the impact volunteering has on volunteers themselves.
“I think volunteering as an act of civic consciousness protects us from becoming indifferent,” he says. “It makes us look, and it makes it easier for us to look at suffering in people in marginalised groups on the streets and so forth.”
While volunteers may only spend a few hours a week supporting a service, Huon believes those experiences help people remain connected to issues that can otherwise become easy to overlook.
“I’ve always thought this for volunteers: the benefits are far greater than the benefits for the clients that we’re working with. It diminishes the indifference that we are always susceptible to in our street life.”
Being part of a team
Over the years, Huon has volunteered with several Thames Reach outreach teams. Most recently, he joined the City Outreach team, where he values the strong sense of teamwork and shared purpose.
He also appreciates the opportunity to work alongside experienced outreach workers who are committed to supporting people sleeping rough.
“Working with the workers is always a pleasure,” he says. “The people are pretty highly motivated, and that’s always a very positive thing.”
Looking beyond the street
One of the things Huon values most is understanding that outreach work is about more than a single conversation or assessment. He believes effective support relies on continuity, relationships and a shared understanding of what happens after someone is encountered on the street.
Reflecting on his recent experience with City Outreach, he says: “I have the idea that there’s more continuity of care and there’s more understanding among the workers, not just assessing somebody on the street, but what happens the next day and what happens in the following days.”
That focus on long-term support is one of the reasons he continues to volunteer after so many years.
Interested in volunteering with Thames Reach?
Volunteers are an important part of our work supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness across London.
Whether you’re looking to give back to your community, learn new skills or gain insight into homelessness services, there are a range of opportunities to get involved.
Find out more about volunteering with Thames Reach and discover how you can make a difference.
Donate today
Your support can help people sleeping rough in extreme temperatures to escape the streets.