Volunteer roles in Gateshead

THE ROLE

The Safeguarding Trustee acts as the Board’s lead on safeguarding, providing strategic oversight, guidance, and challenge to ensure the highest standards of safeguarding practice across the organisation.

You will:

• Provide strategic oversight of safeguarding policy and practice
• Support and challenge the organisation to maintain high standards
• Ensure safeguarding is embedded in governance and decision-making
• Ensure safeguarding risks are appropriately reflected in the risk register
• Work closely with the Chair, Charity Director, and safeguarding lead to promote a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We would welcome applications from people who have:

• Experience or knowledge of safeguarding children and young people
• An understanding of safeguarding legislation or guidance
• Good judgement, integrity, and the ability to think strategically

Trustee experience is not essential—we will support your development.

WHY JOIN US?

Blue Smile is a children’s mental health charity dedicated to transforming the mental health and life chances of children across Cambridgeshire through arts-based therapies. We support over 200 children each week, working closely with schools and families.

This is a meaningful opportunity to contribute your expertise to a well-respected charity and help make a lasting difference to children’s mental health.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

The role of the board is to govern Breaking Barriers effectively, in service of our vision and mission, and as required by our constitution. Trustees provide support and challenge to the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and are ambassadors for the charity.

 Essential Duties of the Trustee Role

· Ensure Breaking Barriers is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit

· Comply with Breaking Barriers' governing document and other laws that apply

· Act in Breaking Barriers' best interests: prioritise Breaking Barriers' objectives, avoid conflicts of interest, and follow procedures to manage any conflicts. 

· Ensure Breaking Barriers is accountable: meeting legal, accounting and reporting requirements

· Manage Breaking Barriers' resources responsibly: managing risks, protecting assets and people, getting the resources we need, having appropriate controls and procedures

· Act with reasonable care and skill using your skills and experience, deciding when you need professional advice, ensure Breaking Barriers remains solvent. 

Other Responsibilities

· Understanding the vision, mission, goals and values of Breaking Barriers together with a good grasp of the operational context and the expectations of partners. 

· Strategic leadership and vision: help to guide the organisation with a strategic vision, aligning the board and staff's efforts with the mission. Ensure that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.

· Leveraging opportunities: Support and participate in fundraising strategies, leveraging networks, and engaging with donors and stakeholders to secure necessary resources for the organisation's work. 

· CEO and SLT support: Maintain a constructive relationship with the CEO and SLT,

creating a positive and strong working relationship to jointly set and achieve appropriate targets, staying in regular contact and acting as a sounding board to discuss strategic or staffing related matters, issues - coaching, supporting and challenging as necessary. 

· Ambassadorship: Act as an ambassador, representing and promoting the organisation's mission, values, and interests to external stakeholders, enhancing its reputation, and fostering collaboration, fundraising and promotional opportunities

Ready to make a difference to a young person's life? Team Up is seeking dynamic volunteer to help transform the lives of disadvantaged pupils by improving their grades and building confidence in their learning.

We are looking for inspirational role models who will tutor English or Maths once a week on one of our 10-12 week online programme, starting in September 2026.

You will be matched with a small number of pupils (max 1 or 2) and provide them with the academic support, encouragement and inspiration they need to get back on track. Our tuition programmes aim to build not just academic strength, but confidence and positivity towards learning as well. 

All our volunteer tutors receive full training, lesson resources and support from a qualified teacher / team manager throughout their placement.

Practical Considerations:

• Our online programme runs on Tuesday afternoons from 17:00 till 18:00.
• The start date is mid-September (date TBC)
• Sessions are 60 minutes and take place via Teams. Tutors are expected to be online 15 minutes prior to their session. There is a 15-minute debrief with your progarmme manager after each session.
• This role requires you to undergo a free of charge enhanced DBS check, arranged by Team Up.

We are looking for:

• Strong grades in English or Maths
• Experience working with young people
• Committed, organised and patient individuals 
• Good interpersonal skills when dealing with pupils
• Individuals who are passionate about helping to reduce the education attainment gap and improve social mobility

Our volunteers love building a rapport with each pupil, seeing pupil growth, and personal confidence increase across the 12 week programme. By the end of the programme, you will see how the support you give has enabled a young person to not only improve their grades, but also build long term resilience. 

Alongside this meaningful experience, you will also be able to attend our online employability seminars, as well as receiving a personalised reference upon completion of the programme.

About us 

Dons Local Action Group is a volunteer-led community organisation dedicated to supporting people in crisis and creating meaningful impact through collective action. Through partnerships, volunteers and local initiatives, we work to provide practical support and strengthen our communities across food, technology and furniture. 

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and creative volunteer to join our Marketing team and help us grow our digital presence, engage supporters, and tell the stories that matter. 

What you'll do: 

• Manage and moderate our social media channels

• Support the creation of engaging content across platforms

• Help plan and schedule posts and campaigns

• Analyse channel performance and identify key insights

• Suggest ideas to improve engagement and evolve our communications

We’re looking for someone who: 

• Has an interest in marketing, social media or communications

• Is creative, organised and proactive

• Has strong written communication skills

• Enjoys working with data and spotting trends

• Wants to contribute to a meaningful cause

What you'll gain: 

• Hands-on marketing and social media experience

• Opportunities to develop content and analytics skills

• Flexible volunteering around your schedule

• The chance to make a real impact in the community

Interested? We'd love to hear from you. Tell us a bit about yourself and why you'd like to get involved. 

When you join us as a volunteer, you’ll be part of a community of passionate people coming together to support the MS Society’s vision of a world free from MS.

As one of our wonderful volunteers, you can get involved in:

• providing support and services to the MS community
• increasing awareness of, and delivering resources to, people affected by MS
• raising vital funds to help stop MS
• boosting our community voice by advocating for MS research and policy

Role details:

Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) are at the heart of our work. We work with people with lived experience of MS, volunteers, and professionals to guide and direct our approach to EEDI.

The EEDI Reference Group is a group of people affected by MS who helped develop our previous EEDI strategy and now support the EEDI work in our more recent organisational strategy. They bring lived experience of marginalisation for example people from minoritised ethnic groups, the LGBTQ+ community, carers and disabled people.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) work. By attending monthly meetings you’ll use your lived and/or professional experience to provide advice, feedback, guidance and personal opinion on our EEDI work.

This is a home-based role, which will require attending online meetings of up to an hour, with up to 30 minutes of pre-reading and follow-up work before each one. 

What you’ll be doing:

· Attending online meetings

· Reading documents and preparing feedback

· Using your lived and/or professional experience to provide constructive and honest feedback on our ways of working, processes and future initiatives

· Representing the MS community and people from marginalised group(s) with lived experience

· Having confidence to speak and input into meetings

· Feeling passion for the MS Society and for EEDI in our work

· Showing awareness of EEDI in a broader context, to provide challenge outside of your lived experience

What you’ll get in return:

· You’ll be part of our amazing volunteer network

· You’ll meet and work with people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences of MS

· You’ll develop skills, which can improve your CV and employability

· You'll be making a real difference to the MS community

· You’ll get a say in influencing our work

· You’ll receive a Volunteer Welcome Pack

· You’ll have an induction to your role

· You’ll get support from your Volunteer Manager

· You’ll gain access to Learning and Development opportunities

· You’ll be reimbursed for any related expenses while carrying out your role

Reference Number: V560

Job Title: Treasurer (Trustee)

Contract Type: Voluntary

Expenses: Reasonable expenses paid

Closing date: 12th June 2026

Interview Date/s: W/C 22nd June 2026

Help shape the future of a national charity changing lives through volunteering

Who we are

At Volunteering Matters, we believe volunteering has the power to strengthen communities, reduce isolation and create lasting social change.

For more than 60 years, we’ve brought people together across the UK through volunteering and social action, supporting people of all ages to build connections, confidence and stronger communities.

We are now looking for a new Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees at an exciting time for the organisation as we deliver our ambitious 2025–2030 strategy.

This is an opportunity to use your financial expertise to help guide a respected national charity, influence strategic decision-making and support meaningful impact across communities throughout the UK.

Why this role matters

As Treasurer, you will play a vital role in helping ensure the long-term sustainability, resilience and good governance of the charity.

You’ll work closely with our Chair, Chief Executive Officer, Board and Finance team to provide financial oversight, strategic support and constructive challenge, helping us make informed decisions that maximise our impact.

This is more than a governance role. It is an opportunity to help shape the future direction of a values-led organisation making a real difference every day.

What you will be involved in

As Treasurer and Trustee, you will:

• Chair our Finance & Audit Committee
• Support the Board in understanding financial performance, risk and sustainability
• Help oversee budgets, reserves, reporting and annual accounts
• Provide strategic financial insight and constructive challenge
• Support strong governance and ethical decision-making
• Contribute ideas, networks and opportunities that help strengthen the organisation
• Help champion the role volunteering plays in creating fairer, more connected communities

You’ll join a supportive, collaborative and passionate Board that is committed to making a positive difference and receive a solid handover from our current Treasurer.

What we are looking for

We’re looking for someone with financial leadership experience and a collaborative, values-led approach.

You may come from the charity, public or private sector and could have experience in areas such as:

• Finance leadership
• Audit or assurance
• Accounting or financial management
• Risk or governance
• Strategic financial planning

Previous Trustee experience is welcome but not essential.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who:

• Believes in the power of volunteering and community
• Wants to use their skills to make a meaningful contribution
• Can communicate financial information clearly and accessibly
• Enjoys working collaboratively with people from different backgrounds and experiences
• Shares our commitment to inclusion, diversity and anti-racism

What you’ll gain

• The opportunity to influence the future of a respected UK charity
• Experience of strategic charity governance at Board level
• The chance to work alongside passionate and experienced Trustees and leaders
• A meaningful way to use your professional skills for social impact
• Opportunities to connect with projects, volunteers and communities across the UK

We value lived experience

At Volunteering Matters, we believe better decisions are made when different voices, experiences and perspectives are represented.

We particularly welcome applications from people whose lived experience reflects the diverse communities we work alongside.

Interested

If you’re excited by the opportunity to use your financial expertise to help shape stronger communities through volunteering, we’d love to hear from you.

Event: 2026 Great North Run 

Location: Newcastle

Time commitment: 13th September - Half a day 

What we're looking for

We need enthusiastic and outgoing volunteers who can cheer as loudly as possible for our runners as they go past our cheer point. Every year thousands of people join Team NSPCC to take on a challenge and raise money to help protect children and prevent abuse. Together with other cheerers, you'll make a huge difference to how our  runners feel – helping them to complete a challenge they've spent months preparing for.

What you'll do

You'll be joining other lively and enthusiastic cheerers at our NSPCC cheer point along the route – be ready for cheering, clapping, whooping or even singing. It's a team effort, so you would also help with setting up the cheer point, giving out t-shirts and cheering materials, making sure the area is kept tidy and helping with packing down.

We'll be in touch to arrange with you what time to arrive, where to meet and what to expect. You don't have to be an official cheerer to come along and support team NSPCC. So if you can't make the full-time or to our cheer point, we'd still love to see there, just look up the event time and come along.

What you'll get

Volunteering at our events is a great way to experience the fantastic atmosphere of event days, without the training! The atmosphere at our cheer point is amazing, and we'll provide you with cheering materials and an NSPCC t-shirt so all you have to bring is your enthusiasm.

You'll be accompanied by NSPCC staff to support you and answer any questions you may have. Travel expenses will be covered up to the value of £5.00.

Who's right for the role?

You don't need any prior experience, just a sense of fun, team spirit and enthusiasm. It's important that you're able to spend a few hours outside, spending lots of this time cheering and clapping. You'll also need to stand for a few hours so, if you think this would be difficult, we'd advise bringing along a travel chair. If you are a wheelchair user, please let us know and we can help to identify a suitably accessible cheering point for you.

You'll need to feel comfortable if members of the public ask you about your volunteering role and will simply need to direct them to a member of staff if they have any questions about the NSPCC. We need volunteers with a warm and friendly manner, as the NSPCC is 90 per cent funded by public donations so the impression people have of us is incredibly important.

Please be aware that you'll need to make your own way to your cheer point (we will give you directions).

Interested in getting involved? Volunteer today and join our fight for every childhood.

Children North East provides life-changing services including vital mental health counselling, community interest projects, support for families in crisis, and safe spaces that help children and young people overcome obstacles and thrive. 

By volunteering in our first flagship charity shop, you are helping us invest in a brighter tomorrow for babies, children and young people across the North East. 

We welcome volunteers aged 18+ who can spare any amount of time - whether a few hours occasionally, regularly scheduled days, or just whenever suits you. 

What you will be doing 

 Engaging with customers, providing a welcoming environment that enhances their shopping experience 

 Processing payments and encouraging sign-up to Gift Aid 

 Accepting donations and accurately completing Gift Aid processSorting, preparing, and organising donated items for display 

 Assisting with creative in-store displays and window arrangements. 

The skills you need 

 Approachable and enthusiasticWillingness to learn 

 Flexible and happy to adapt to a variety of shop activities day-by-dayKeen to be part of a supportive team of staff and volunteers 

What's in it for you 

 Gain valuable experience in retail and customer service 

 Develop your skills and knowledge for your CV and increase your employability 

 Flexible volunteering, designed to suit your availability and lifestyleEnjoy the camaraderie of a welcoming, supportive team 

 Be an integral part of creating positive community impact 

 Join an established charity with over 130 years of history supporting children and families 

Have you got a passion for making an impact in your local community?

 Could you support us by being our ambassador and a speaker within your local community to help Caudwell Children to raise funds that support disabled and neurodivergent children to realise their full potential?

 What will you be doing?

· Represent the organisation at community events, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere and sharing information about Caudwell Children

· Build positive relationships with local businesses, schools, and community groups to encourage support.

· Give presentations to community groups to raise awareness

 What skills would be useful?

· Friendly, approachable and confident speaking with new people

· Organised

· Creative and enthusiastic about fundraising

· Public speaking experience or confidence to learn

 What’s in it for you?

· Relevant training, mentoring and support will be provided

· Gain experience to add on to your CV

· Utilise your skills and learn new ones.

· Social opportunities

· Access to wellbeing support

· Out of pocket travel expenses can be reimbursed

· We strive to make reasonable adjustments and improve accessibility

How much time are you expected to give and when?

Volunteering is flexible. The brilliant thing about this role is you can do as much or as little as you like.  Weekdays or weekends, daytime or evenings, there is lots of choice.

 Where is the role located?

Looking for volunteers based across Staffordshire, support provided remotely.

Minimum age for this role: 16

At Afrocats, we work with communities in Greater Manchester to support women, children and families through access to arts and culture. We are looking for an organised and reliable volunteer administrator to join our small, friendly team and provide support across a range of needs.

This is a flexible volunteer opportunity ideal for someone with previous office or administrative experience who would like to use their skills to support meaningful community work.

Role Responsibilities:

• General administrative support
• Data entry
• Presentation preparation
• Monitoring and responding to emails
• Research tasks and adhoc project support

Commitment:
Around 8 hours per week for a period of 12 months.

Working Hours:
Hours are flexible, however, during the initial induction period, some overlap with staff working hours will be required.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Organised and detail-oriented
• Confident using email, Word, Excel, and other digital services
• Able to manage tasks independently
• Friendly, professional, and proactive
• Comfortable working remotely and as part of a team

Previous administrative or office experience is preferred.

Join us and play an important role in supporting the inner workings of a local organisation working with communities!

JOB PURPOSE
The Operations Assistant provides essential administrative and operational support to ensure the
smooth day-to-day functioning of the organization. The role supports coordination efforts,
maintains systems and records, and assists in executing tasks that enable teams to operate
efficiently and remain aligned with organizational processes.

This position serves as a foundational support role, ensuring that operational activities are well-
organized, documented, and effectively carried out.

Experience, Qualification and Requirements

• Strong organizational and administrative skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Basic coordination and time management skills
• Good written and verbal communication
• Ability to follow instructions and processes effectively
• Basic problem-solving ability
• Proficiency in digital tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Project/Task Management Tools)
• Reliability, responsiveness, and willingness to learn
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team
• Diploma or degree in Business Administration/Management or any related field.
• Experience in administrative or support roles.

Main Responsibilities/ Key Duties

• Provide administrative and logistical support to operations and team leads
• Assist in coordinating meetings, including scheduling, documentation, and follow-ups
• Maintain and update records, trackers, and shared documents
• Support communication flow across teams (emails, updates, reminders)
• Assist in onboarding processes (e.g., sharing resources, granting access)
• Monitor assigned tasks and follow up on action points
• Ensure proper filing and organization of operational documents
• Support implementation of processes and workflows
• Assist in resolving minor operational issues and escalate when necessary
• Provide general support to ensure smooth daily operations

This role is not suitable if you:

• Prefer low-responsibility volunteer work
• Avoid handling sensitive data or detailed reporting
• Are seeking immediate paid employment
• Are uncomfortable applying analysis to strategic decisions

Important to be clear:

• This is a volunteer role during the CIC’s build phase. It carries real responsibility for data integrity and donor relations.
• Formal qualifications are not required, but desirable.
• Essential equivalent experience mandatory.

Next Steps:
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to:

• A values-led conversation
• A practical discussion about event planning, coordination, and execution

If you believe that well-organised, purposeful events can change communities, and that experiences inspire action, this role is for you.

About borGO

borGO is a new experiential tourism initiative based in Abruzzo, Italy, dedicated to promoting an authentic, sustainable, and community-driven vision of travel.
Through our digital platform and curated experiences, borGO connects international travelers with local culture, small villages, artisans, food traditions, nature, and community life. Our mission is to support rural territories, strengthen local economies, and introduce a global audience to a lesser-known but extraordinary region of Italy.
borGO promotes a slow, sustainable, and meaningful travel model, focusing on authentic encounters with people, landscapes, and traditions.

Volunteership Summary

As a Social Media Manager, you will support the development and management of borGO’s social media presence, helping us tell the story of authentic Abruzzo to an international audience.

Working closely with the founder, you will help design and implement social media strategies that increase awareness, engagement, and visibility around sustainable tourism, local experiences, and cultural storytelling.
This volunteer opportunity offers hands-on experience in destination marketing, digital storytelling, and social media strategy within a fast-growing tourism initiative focused on sustainability and local impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and schedule social media content across platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and other relevant channels
• Create engaging posts, captions, and storytelling content that communicate Abruzzo’s culture, landscapes, traditions, and experiences
• Support the development and management of a structured social media content calendar
• Monitor engagement and basic performance metrics to track audience growth and interaction
• Research travel trends, sustainability topics, and cultural stories to support content creation
• Repurpose long-form content (articles, travel guides, blog posts, newsletters) into short and engaging social media formats
• Contribute ideas during marketing brainstorming sessions and weekly meetings

Requirements

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media, Tourism, Cultural Studies, or a related field
• Strong interest in social media, storytelling, and destination marketing
• Good writing and communication skills in English, possibly Italian
• Ability to translate cultural or travel-related topics into engaging social media content
• Interest in sustainable tourism, rural development, culture, or travel
• Comfortable using digital and AI-supported tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for ideation while maintaining originality and brand voice
• Organized, proactive, and reliable in a remote working environment
• Familiarity with Google Workspace
• Experience with Canva, Instagram content creation, or scheduling tools is a plus

Learning Outcomes

• Practical experience managing social media for a sustainable tourism initiative
• Hands-on exposure to destination marketing and travel storytelling
• Experience building and managing professional social media campaigns
• Collaboration with an international, mission-driven team
• Increased understanding of sustainable tourism, rural communities, and cultural heritage promotion

What We Offer

• A structured Volunteership experience with defined responsibilities and learning objectives
• Flexible, fully remote working arrangement.
• Certificate of completion and reference letter upon successful completion
• Opportunity to contribute to the promotion of sustainable tourism and rural communities in Italy

How to Apply

Please apply through We Make Change by submitting your profile and a short note explaining your interest in the role and your passion for travel, culture, and storytelling.

Minimum Hours per Week:

4-6 hours per week

Duration:

1-2 months

Creative Space

We empower SDG-aligned solo professionals with community support, inner development skills, and collaborative resources.​

Creative Space is looking for a volunteer with expertise in fundraising, EU grants, crowdfunding, angel investments etc. to support my funding and sustainability efforts as we grow our international impact-driven community ecosystem. 
We also have the possibility to 

Responsibilities include:

• researching grants, EU funding opportunities, foundations, and aligned funding sources
• supporting the writing and preparation of funding applications and also exploring collective fundraising opportunity with members and partners.
• helping build and organise a long-term funding pipeline and opportunities database

We are looking for someone who is structured, proactive, enjoys research, and is passionate about supporting meaningful social impact work. Experience or knowledge with grant writing or funding research is essential. 
In return, volunteers receive free access to the Creative Space community, events, networking opportunities, and the possibility to grow with an emerging international ecosystem for changemakers and purpose-driven work.

We are also very open to Collective Fundraising which includes the projects of our SDG-aligned solopreneur members and partner organisations with which we collaborate.

Responsibilities

• Research grants, EU funding
• Write applications
• Build funding pipeline

Profile

• Soft: persistent, strategic thinker
• Hard: grant writing, research
• Type: patient builder

* we are also open to shorter time periods and less or more hours per week.

Minimum Hours per Week:

10+ hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

Manakal

We empower young people and underserved communities to become sustainability leaders through accessible, culturally-centered education and mentorship.​

Role Description

Manakal is seeking a proactive and people-centered volunteer to support volunteer coordination, engagement, and team wellbeing within our growing international community.

This role focuses on strengthening the volunteer experience through onboarding, communication, follow-up, and community support practices. It is ideal for someone interested in nonprofit operations, people coordination, and building collaborative impact-driven environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate volunteer onboarding and integration processes
• Support volunteer engagement and follow-up systems
• Maintain communication with volunteers across teams
• Help improve volunteer coordination processes and workflows
• Support initiatives related to team wellbeing and organizational culture
• Assist in identifying communication gaps or volunteer support needs
• Help maintain volunteer records and internal organization systems

Who We’re Looking For

• Organized and proactive individual with strong communication skills
• Interested in nonprofit work, community engagement, or people operations
• Comfortable working in an international remote environment
• Empathetic, collaborative, and people-centered
• Previous coordination or leadership experience is a plus

What You’ll Gain

• Experience in volunteer coordination and nonprofit operations
• Leadership and organizational development experience
• International collaboration opportunities
• Hands-on experience in community and people management
• Flexible remote volunteering opportunity

Minimum Hours per Week:

4-6 hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months