Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering can be a fantastic way to get valuable experience of spending time with children that can strengthen your adoption application and also help you to work out what your own strengths are in terms of communicating with children of various different backgrounds, ages and stages of development. In most Local Authority areas there are organisations in place that will support people wanting to volunteer to find something that fits in with their preference and the amount of time they need to commit. There is usually no cost involved to the volunteer. DBS checks and references may be needed for some volunteering; however, any financial cost is usually met by the organisation. Whilst some places ask for volunteers to commit to a certain amount of time or hours, we have found that most are flexible and want to make volunteering as accessible as possible to people. Here we have collated some information about organisations we know of; feel free to contact us to let us know about others as we will look to keep this section as updated as possible.
Newcastle
Newcastle Volunteer Centre website contains information on current vacancies:
https://volunteercentrenewcastle.org.uk
Gateshead
Volunteer Centre Gateshead - Our Gateshead:
https://www.ourgateshead.org/ways-to-help
There are lots of opportunities available via the Volunteer Centre Gateshead. The Coordinator is Kate Marshall who can support anyone in finding a volunteering opportunity to suit them. Volunteer activities and roles are active across all of Gateshead delivered by Gateshead Council Service areas and within the voluntary sector of Gateshead.
The main digital tool to identify any suitable volunteer roles in Gateshead is OurGateshead this is the main website that is used to register any active volunteer roles.
Particular roles that could be of interest to provide experience and skill development are those within Gateshead Council’s Family Hubs. There are 4 main volunteer roles across 9 Gateshead Family Hubs including:
o Family Hub – general administration role
o Family Hub – Toy Library volunteer role
o Family Hub – Play volunteer under 5
o Family Hub – Play volunteer 5 and above
The above roles are always being recruited to however there are other opportunities available too. One of these is the Code and Create Kids Club, a STEM and coding group for girls aged 7-11 years run by the Chopwell Regeneration group https://www.ourgateshead.org/ways-to-help/code-and-create-kids-club-volunteers-chopwell-regeneration-group
If you would like some general support around identifying a suitable volunteer role or you need any more information on volunteering in Gateshead please email volunteering@gateshead.gov.uk or katemarshall@gateshead.gov.uk
North Tyneside
North Tyneside VODA:
https://voda.org.uk/volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer
Living Well North Tyneside:
https://www.livingwellnorthtyneside.co.uk/advice-and-support/employment-and-volunteering
South Tyneside
Inspire:
https://help.plinth.org.uk/IST
Northumberland
Northumberland Community and Voluntary Action:
https://northumberlandcva.org.uk/volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer
Durham
Durham Community Action:
https://www.durhamcommunityaction.org.uk/i-want-to-volunteer
Tel: 01388 742040
Email: volunteering@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk
Sunderland
Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance (VSA) are a charity that can signpost to a number of Sunderland based organisations who are able to offer suitable roles. The Community and Corporate Volunteering Coordinator, Marie Wisson, is also able to try and match people to the right opportunities. She is also available to talk to people in person informally if they just want to chat about things before committing. This form will be sent directly to Marie for her to find opportunities for people:
https://www.sunderlandvsa.co.uk/article/22956/I-want-to-volunteer-in-Sunderland
Sunderland VSA website:
https://www.sunderlandvsa.co.uk/volunteer
Tel: 07350 392620
Email: marie.wisson@sunderlandvsa.co.uk
Middlesbrough
Volunteering Academy advertise volunteering opportunities on their website but are also able to meet with people and find bespoke opportunities for them that may not yet be visible on the website:
https://mvda.info/i-want-volunteer
Ruth Barnes is the Volunteer Services Manager and is happy for people to contact her about their bespoke service:
Tel: 01642 955613, Mob: 07487265982
Email: ruth.barnes@mvdauk.org.uk
Region wide
Girls Friendly Society – volunteer with girls groups:
https://girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk
Our groups are a great place for people to build confidence, we often have those studying to become teachers or interesting in working with children volunteer with us.
Generally, we ask for a minimum commitment of 12 months for volunteers where possible, however this is flexible and we would be keen on people who are willing to engage on a weekly basis (term-time only) with the groups.
People can sign-up by completing the application form here: Volunteer registration form - Girls Friendly Society
After completing this form, we have a chat with each person about their individual needs and goals when volunteering with us and complete the relevant training and DBS checks.
Schoolreaders
https://www.schoolreaders.org/volunteer
In order to provide consistent help to the children and school, we ask that our volunteers are prepared to attend school at the agreed time on the same day once a week for at least 1 hour, and stay with us for at least one full academic year from when you start in school.
Many volunteers are at school for longer than 1 hour and some also go on multiple days. The time commitment is arranged to suit the volunteers’ availability and the schools’ need.
Scouts
https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteer
Girl Guiding
https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/getting-started-as-a-volunteer
Volunteering Matters