Volunteer Roles in North East

Deafblind UK members have combined sight and hearing loss and many can feel lonely or socially isolated. We offer a free telephone befriending service where we match volunteers with one of our members to have a weekly 30 minute chat together.

We are looking for confident, empathetic and friendly people who can hold a good conversation. You could be chatting about similar interests or learning about each other’s lives. Whatever the conversation you’ll be having a positive impact.

One 30 minute call seems really simple but having someone to talk to and someone to listen, could really make a difference to our members. It could be that you’re the only person they speak to that day, or even that week.

Our members love to chat with people who have had some life experience and stories to tell. You will need good communication skills and be able to strike up a conversation. You will also need to be reliable, patient with a naturally warm and friendly nature.

We will ensure you are supported throughout your journey with us, offering training and support at all times.

The Bereaved by Suicide project provides a rapid response and ongoing support service to those affected by suicide. We are looking for Bereavement Volunteers to join us at Cruse to provide up to 6 support sessions for clients by phone or zoom.

We aim to meet the needs of clients as closely as possible, meaning support sessions may be spread out to ensure support is ongoing throughout an inquest for example, and support can sometimes be extended depending on individual circumstances.

We are keen to hear from anyone with experience of working in the field of mental health support, suicide, or relevant social work. The position could suit a counselling student seeking a placement to complete their counselling hours.

Full bereavement training is provided over a six week period with additional bereaved by suicide training. A DBS check is also required.

Do you want to increase your admin or customer service skills? Then we have the perfect volunteering opportunity for you...

We are are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who want to support our members and join our friendly team of staff and volunteers. In this role, you will be assisting with the incoming calls coming into the National Helpline. Our members get in touch for a whole host of reasons - no day is the same! Some knowledge or experience of sight and or hearing loss would be an advantage in this particular role and confidence in speaking with people of all ages and backgrounds over the phone.

Duties would be varied ranging from dealing with basic incoming contact and referring any complex issues to our Membership Services team, updating our information library or carrying out research to support our work helping those with sight and hearing loss. You’ll receive full one to one training and gain a range of new skills and the confidence to use them. Although this is a remote role, there will always be a member of the team available to support you in your role.

We are looking for volunteers who would be available to support us in a slot between 10.00am – 12.00pm Mondays and Tuesdays.

Volunteering is a great way of improving you own skills and supporting others - why not join the team and make a difference to real people's lives......

Join our amazing team and make a real difference to people living with sight loss. Help create a welcoming and safe environment for people to share their experiences, ask questions and support each other and connect with a local community in a group setting via Facebook.

In this role you will be: 

• Managing group membership – authorising Requests to Join. 

• Creating a warm and welcoming environment. 

• Supporting group conversations. 

• Working with a Volunteer Moderator Team to create engaging content for the Group. 

• Ensuring House Rules are followed and content is appropriate. 

What you’ll gain from the role: 

• An opportunity to give something back. 

• A chance to build a strong community. 

• A sense of achievement through the difference you make.

•  A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people 

• An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. 

In return for donating your time we will provide: 

• A rewarding experience. 

• A great Induction and training. 

• A supportive manager. 

• Regular updates and catchups. 

• Expenses. 

• An opportunity to connect with other volunteers. 

We are looking for warm, friendly people who enjoy a bit of a chat!

Here at Deafblind UK, we contact our members on their special day to wish them best wishes on their birthday and are looking for confident, chatty and friendly individuals to join our amazing volunteer team to make calls on a Wednesday and a Friday.

No previous experience is necessary - You just need to be comfortable talking over the phone, engaging, able to instigate conversations and able to commit to regular weekly calls.

Full training is provided along with full support and guidance.

Yes! This is the role for me.....then apply today!

Keeping in regular contact with our members to check on their wellbeing is one of our key services.

Our Wellbeing Volunteers contact a range of different members every week to make a friendly 'check in' call and have a chat. During these calls, you'll provide the opportunity for our members to talk, offer friendly support and make them aware of the Deafblind UK services available to them.

Whatever the conversation you’ll be making a positive difference!

This is a home based role so you don't need to be 'local' and you don’t need experience to become one of our Wellbeing Volunteers. The majority of our members communicate with clear speech so no specialised skills or knowledge is required. You just need to be comfortable chatting over the phone and be able to commit to a regular weekly time slot to make calls to our members. Some knowledge or experience of sight and or hearing loss would be an advantage in this particular role and confidence in speaking with people of all ages and backgrounds. 

We provide full training and ongoing support in this role and ask for a minimum commitment of three months.

We require you to have Wifi and access to a PC, tablet or mobile device. This is to allow you to complete training, have access to the Deafblind UK phone system and to submit online contact logs.

Volunteering with our charity is special because you get to hear  first-hand the difference you make to people’s lives. Click on 'apply' and make a difference today!

Do you have a passion for IT or learning new technology? Know your uploads from your downloads or consider yourself a ‘techie’?  Then we are looking for you! But whatever your background, the most important skill you have will be enthusiasm – about being online, technology, willingness to learn and communicate that knowledge to the people Age UK Devon support.

A Digital champion volunteer,  helps older people learn IT skills in a safe and supportive way.

You will help provide support and guidance, to build their digital skills and confidence, enabling them to live a more digitally inclusive and independent life.

The role involves providing personalised support to an older person through one-to-one sessions in their home, or through group coaching in a community setting.

And in return you will gain new skills, be part of your local community, make new friends, and be proud to support Age UK Devon enable older people to get the most out of life!

Age UK Devon will repay any agreed travel expenses

More information about this volunteering role on our website. For an informal chat about this role please call us 

Ref: V228 | Support Group Volunteer | Houghton le Spring

We’re looking for Support Group Volunteers over the age of 18 years old, based at Coalfields Stroke Group, Bethany Christian Centre, Hetton Road, Houghton le Spring, DH5 8PF.

You’ll be volunteering fortnightly on first and third Friday of the month, from 10:30-12:30pm

As a support group volunteer, you will help with the running of the group.  The role is designed to suit the needs of the group, and the skills of people offering support. If you enjoy getting to know your community, working with others and making a real difference then this is the role for you.

The volunteer will be

· A people person, with good listening skills

· A great communicator who enjoys meeting new people

· Good at putting people at ease

· Reliable and organised

· Passionate about supporting people affected by stroke

· IT literate, have good administrative and record keeping skills and be able to follow relevant policies

A DBS check is required for this role.

Interested in this role?

Find out more by downloading the role description for the Support Group Volunteer role.

If you are interested in this role, please complete our application form on our website.

About Us

Stroke Association. Rebuilding lives after stroke.

When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. That’s because a stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do. It happens every five minutes in the UK and changes lives instantly. Recovery is tough, but with the right specialist support and a ton of courage and determination, the brain can adapt.

We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. And it’s a team effort to get there.

We provide specialist support, fund critical research and campaign to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support to rebuild their lives.

We’re working to improve the diversity of our team.  Because we know that individuality leads to a richer experience for our people and better support for those affected by stroke. 

We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. And we’re particularly looking to increase the number of applications from those with lived experience of stroke and those from under-represented communities. 

Every five minutes, stroke destroys lives. Help us rebuild them and join our team.

To help us deliver our strategy and make a real difference, we are looking to recruit talented people to a number of new roles.

If you would like to support stroke survivors to rebuild their lives, we want to hear from you!

Are you seeking to use your organisational and administrative skills to help provide a better future for disadvantaged children? We’re looking for a new secretary to assist with the running of our small but highly effective charity which provides impoverished children from North East Ghana with the uniform and equipment needed for primary school.

Apply today to be a Youth Ambassador for the World Literacy Foundation in your region.

Join 1000 other young people from around the globe

Every year, the World Literacy Foundation runs a global program to train and encourage youth people to become literacy advocates and generate change in their communities. Our ambassador program is an incredible platform to interact, share and strengthen togetherness with other like-minded people determined to eradicate illiteracy worldwide.

Be a local voice and advocate for the importance of literacy.

Ambassadors will speak at their school, university, media and community groups to raise greater awareness and education.

About us

The World Literacy Foundation is a peak non-profit organisation striving to eradicate illiteracy.

Who can apply?

We are looking for young people who meet the following criteria:

Be 15-25 years old.

Have a deep passion for literacy, human rights, and social causes

Wants to join a community of Change-Makers

Have access to a computer/smartphone and internet connection

Have the availability to contribute 30 hours of service across the 3 months to complete the program

Be able to take part in fundraising activities for the organization

Applications close May 1 2024

Further information and to apply please visit the website of the World Literacy Foundation

Member of Connexional Solidarity Circles (Carers, Rural, Disability, LGBT+, Racial Justice, and Women)

Closing date: 9am on 7 May 2024

Proposed tart date: 1 Sep 2024

Solidarity Circles for Disability, LGBT+, Racial Justice, and Women were launched in September 2023 as part of the Strategy for Justice, Dignity and Solidarity. We hope to start 2 new Solidarity Circles – one for Carers and one for Rural Communities in September 2024.

Solidarity Circles are online meetings for the Methodist Church to support people in different diversities of the Church’s life to meet regularly, to support one another and to raise with relevant Church leaders the concerns that need to be addressed. These circles act as consultative groups for the work of the Methodist Church and are supported and led by a volunteer coordinator.

Each Solidarity Circle is formed of up to 15 members who are appointed for one, two or three years with up to five new members recruited each year to ensure a diversity of views and experience are heard.

If you are passionate about working with others towards a fully inclusive church and meet the criteria then please consider applying to join one or more of the Solidarity Circles.

• Solidarity Circle for Disability
• Solidarity Circle for LGBT+
• Solidarity Circle for Racial Justice
• Solidarity Circle for Women
• Solidarity Circle for Carers
• Solidarity Circle for Rural Communities

For the role description and Solidarity Circle Terms of Reference, please review the Solidarity Circle Information pack. The pack also details the additional information regarding preferences and availability, which will need to be noted on your application.

The closing date for applications is 7 May 2024 by 9am.

A drop-in session has been arranged to support the recruitment for new Solidarity Circle members. The session will take place on 24 April from 7-8pm

Please view job on the Methodist Church jobs page to register your interest to attend drop-in

My Death, My Decision campaigns for a compassionate assisted dying law to help end unnecessary suffering for the terminally ill and those suffering unbearably. You can lead its strategic initiatives and inspire the team to achieve the goal.

As our current Chair must step down at the end of 2024, we are seeking a Chair elect to join the board no later than the end of the first quarter of 2024. This will allow shadowing of the current Chair to ensure a smooth transition, by maintaining continuity and facilitating a seamless handover of leadership.

As the Chair of My Death, My Decision, you will play a pivotal role in leading our organisation to further our campaign goals. We are seeking an individual who is passionate about the cause either from personal experience or from professional engagement with those making end of life choices.

You will be a seasoned leader with a proven track record of strategic thinking and decision-making, whether in the context of a campaign, a charity or a not-for-profit company. Your leadership should inspire and guide our team towards achieving our mission, making a tangible impact. 

If you have a history of successfully steering an organisation, are passionate about our cause, and believe in the values of autonomy, dignity, and compassion, we encourage you to apply for this pivotal role.

Key Responsibilities

• Governance: Oversee the governance of My Death, My Decision, including chairing board meetings and member meetings, ensuring effective decision-making processes and working closely with the Director of Finance.
• Leadership and Coordination: Provide strong leadership by chairing events, onboarding new board members, and coordinating our membership at the ‘World Federation of Right to Die Societies’.
• Spokesperson: Act as the primary spokesperson for My Death, My Decision, responding to media requests and inquiries, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the campaign and its objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a key point of contact with our patrons, benefactors, and key supporters, nurturing relationships and promoting our mission.
• Miscellaneous: This role will require the successful candidate to ensure the smooth running of the organisation, both internally and in its external presentation. This will include occasional tasks outside of the realm of the job description. 

We are looking for a board member willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role.

You will be a good fit for this role if you have:

• Commitment & Enthusiasm: A strong passion for changing the law on assisted dying and a commitment to our campaign goal. The ability to inspire and engage others.
• Knowledge on assisted dying: As the role of chair will require much external engagement with relevant stakeholders and the media, in-depth understanding of the subject matter is essential. We are however willing to consider candidates who have a broad understanding but need time to become familiar with the details of the campaign during the Chair elect transition referred to above.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong strategic thinking skills to develop and execute a campaign strategy in collaboration with other board members and small team of MDMD staff.
• Governance skills: Previous experience around not for profit governance.
• Communication skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to act as a spokesperson for the organisation, in particular towards bodies such as the Houses of Parliament, medical associations, the media etc.

What difference will you make?

This is an opportunity to effect real change and make a difference by achieving law change that will:

• respect autonomy, ensure dignity and end unnecessary suffering for those at the most challenging times of their lives; and
• provide choice for those making critical decisions about their lives and how they might end. 

We are committed to an evidence-based law which would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards, and we are not afraid to confront uncomfortable truths or expose specious arguments.

You can be the dynamic motivator of the work of our members, supporters, patrons and activists as we help to broaden the assisted dying debate and seek to enshrine the values of autonomy, dignity, and compassion into assisted dying legislation. 

How to apply

We do not have a prescribed application form. A covering email or letter and CV are suggested. Approved applicants may be interviewed on an ongoing basis rather than after the closing date. In the event of a successful candidate being selected, the opportunity will be withdrawn.

Child . org is a data-driven charity working to champion perinatal health in Kenya, where neonatal mortality rates have barely changed in the last 5 years. We're seeking a new trustee to join us in driving our strategy forward.

What will you be doing?

Child . org is a data-driven charity working to champion perinatal health in Kenya, where neonatal mortality rates have barely changed in the last 5 years. We work with parents, communities and government in Kenya to provide life-saving antenatal and postnatal health information, connect at-risk mums and babies with the healthcare services they need and work with local health authorities to advocate for and improve the quality of perinatal care.

We’re a small but ambitious organisation. We have a small team who make a big impact. We pride ourselves on our core values and the culture we have built. Our team is split between Bristol in the UK and Nairobi and Meru in Kenya. Our board of Trustees are mostly based in the South West but also in London and the US. 

We are currently launching our new strategy and as part of that, we want to broaden the skills and experience of our board. We are looking for people who are passionate about the work we do, who are able to provide support, share ideas and inspire our team and our work. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are; what matters is your drive, commitment to change and what you can bring to the table.

We are especially keen to broaden the demographic of our board and to gain more contextual insight of where we work. People with a connection to Kenya, particularly those working in or with experience of maternal and neonatal health, are strongly encouraged to apply.

What are we looking for?

• Willing to devote the necessary time and effort to being an effective Trustee (and Chairperson)
• Committed to our Vision, Approach, Values and Goals
• Leaders, with demonstrable skills and experience
• High emotional intelligence with a high level of self-awareness
• Strategic in their vision, with an understanding of strategic delivery
• Balanced with an informed approach to risk
• Passionate about maternal and neonatal health
• Understanding and accepting of the legal, financial, audit and other regulatory requirements of a charity

What difference will you make?

As a Child . org Trustee, you'll play a pivotal role in driving positive change and improving perinatal health outcomes in Kenya. You will contribute to shaping and executing the newly developed strategic vision of Child . org. You will contribute to risk management and decision-making processes, ensuring effective governance and sustainability. Through collaboration, mentorship, and engagement with staff, you'll contribute to building a stronger, more resilient organisation that continues to champion perinatal health for years to come.

Before you apply

As a first step, please send your CV and expression of interest which outlines why you think you could be a good fit for Child . org. If we agree that you could be, we will send you a short questionnaire and to arrange an informal interview with the chair of our board. Please send applications via Reach in the first instance. 

The next stage will be a formal interview with multiple board members and the CEO. We expect to appoint later in the year, around October, if not before.

Come and Mentor for Us!

What is Mentor Mums?

Mentor Mums exists in recognition of the fact that there is very little support for parents stepping back into the workplace after time away and it’s not always easy.

Whether parents step back reluctantly, or with huge ambition and drive, there’s no doubt that the first few months are full of bumps in the road, as they navigate everything from organizational or management changes to emergency calls from nursery requesting the collection of a sick baby! 

People often feel that although their job stays largely the same, everything else about them, such as their priorities, sense of identity or capacity to work, has changed. 

We help support parents through this, by providing them with a mentor who works in the same profession, but is a few steps ahead in their parenting journey and can give them advice and support as they return. 

Who are you for? 

We welcome parents of all kinds, inclusive of gender, sexuality, adoptive parents and those from all models of family, who have taken a period time out of work to care for their children and would like support in returning to work. 

Some of our mentees are seeking emotional and pastoral support, while others are focused on career progression and getting back up to date with their professional skills or knowledge.

What do you do?

Our mentoring programme is totally free to access, and matches newly returning parents with mentors who work in a similar professional role and can help them navigate their journey as a working parent. 

Mentorships usually take place virtually, or occasionally in person, and mentors offer 6 hours of their time over 6 months to help someone initially survive, but eventually to thrive.

What is the onboarding process? 

All mentors and mentees book in for an initial chat with one of our team, so we can check your fit for our programme, understand your professional role, and get a sense of your own experience of becoming a parent. 

In mentors, we’re looking for people who remember the challenges, are ready to support someone in a non-judgmental or prescriptive way, and who are willing to be open about the struggles they encountered in their own journey. 

What is the time commitment for volunteers?

The initial onboarding call with our team takes around 20 minutes, and further to this we ask mentors to watch a short (15 minute) video and read our handbook. 

We then ask for a commitment to a mentee of 6 hours across 6 months (roughly 1 hour per month), plus admin time pre-post sessions. The 6-session model is tried and tested. It helps people move from ‘survival mode’ to thinking about the longer-term future, whether that includes growing their family further and/or progressing in their career, leaving them in a position of strength when the mentoring comes to an end. 

Why would you recommend volunteering as a mentor? 

People generally mentor for us because they understand the challenges others are facing as they return, and often wish this service had existed when they returned themselves! This is a chance to be the lifeline that another parent needs, helping them to return to their job successfully whilst also embracing family life. 

Previous participants have told us the programme has made a huge difference to their return. 

Mentees have said: 

“There was an opportunity for a promotion shortly after I returned. My mentor helped me remember what I was capable of doing, and taught me that I can do so much more than I thought. Friends will support you, but sometimes you need to hear from someone who can offer an impartial ear.”

“My experience with Mentor Mums has been amazing - it was exactly the support that I didn’t even realise I needed at the right time. My mentor provided me with planning strategies, and so many work-day framing exercises. She instilled confidence into me; empowering me to make the right decisions, question stakeholders and even helped me pluck up the courage to ask for a promotion and pay rise. Mentoring has benefited my life in so many ways.”

Mentors have said:

“Mentoring someone else has been a growth experience for me – through the conversations I notice more about my own approaches to certain situations, and the things I still need to work on. Mentoring also gives me the chance to consider the way I support those in my own company grappling with similar challenges.” 

“Mentoring has been a really rewarding experience. My mentee and I still keep in touch and it’s become a more mutually beneficial relationship over time.”

What types of professionals/experience are you looking for?

We would welcome mentors from all areas of the business at all levels of seniority and we currently have a long waiting list for mentors! We try to match people with their professional peers, except when we feel that particular lived experience (e.g. bereavement during parenthood, life as an adoptive parent, etc) might provide better synergy between a mentee and their mentor.

Who is eligible to be a mentor?

Anyone with lived experience as a working parent or carer of a young child is eligible to mentor for us. We expect all our mentors to adopt an inclusive attitude, mentoring people regardless of any protected characteristic, offering support without judgement.  

How can we can get involved?

You can apply to mentor via our website. You’ll be asked to create a login and sign up for a call. Then we’ll match you with a mentee as soon as we find one and you can get started straight away!

Where can we find out more?

You can find FAQs on our website here. If you have further questions, please email us.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.