Volunteer Centre Newcastle

How to volunteer

If you are looking at this page you have probably decided that you are interested in volunteering but you are not exactly sure what's available, what organisations might expect of you, or how to find something that matches your interests, skills and time. If you want to volunteer in Newcastle, we can help you answer these questions.

We can do this by talking to you face to face, on the telephone or by email. We call this a guidance session. We advertise all of our roles on the 'Do It' website which is also known as the National Database of Volunteering.

When you log into 'Do It' please use your home postcode as your start search point. Any enquiries or applications for roles which Volunteer Centre Newcastle advertise will be sent to us to process. We will then contact you by email to explain what happens next.

Part of the guidance session is to listen to your needs and we might suggest that you contact other teams within Newcastle who offer specialist services to young volunteers, student volunteers and people who want to volunteer with the aim of getting a paid job.

If you don't live in Newcastle we will still process any 'Do It' enquiries or applications you make and we will also tell you about your local volunteer centreor other appropriate volunteering agency: we will still aim to support you if you are looking to volunteer within Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Five steps to volunteering

1. Work out how much time you have to give.

How much time a volunteer gives per week, or for how long, will vary from organisation to organisation and from voluntary role to voluntary role. If you cannot commit to a regular amount of time there may still be roles that are open to you.

The length of time you volunteer for an organisation is also something you should consider. Some organisations may be hoping for a commitment of more than you are able to give and you should discuss this with the volunteer coordinator.

If you are claiming any state benefits we will talk to you about what you will need to do if you are looking to volunteer. There are no restrictions on volunteering whilst on benefits as long as you are still able to attend any interviews, inform your advisor of your interest in volunteering and volunteer with a group which has charitable aims.

2. Work out why you volunteer.

Understanding your motivation for volunteering could well help you to identify more suitable roles. Volunteering works best when the expectations of the volunteer are closely matched to the organisation they are volunteering for.

There are many different reasons for volunteering, whether it is to meet new people, make new friends, increase your self confidence, gain new skills, or to make yourself more employable.

There are many different types of volunteering roles in Newcastle but not all of them will meet your expectations.

3. Identify the role you want to do.

We upload all the roles we know about onto the 'Do It' website unless we are asked specifically not to by the organisations who have the roles, so if you do have internet access this may be the easiest way to search for the right role. See Finding a role for more information about using the 'Do It' website.

If you can't find the volunteering role you are looking for, then we are happy to meet, talk on the phone or email you some options.

If you are not able to volunteer within Newcastle we will give you details of your local volunteer centre. If you live outside of Newcastle the issues to consider are travel, time and expenses. This must be discussed with with volunteer coordinators of the organisations you are interested in volunteering for.

4. Contact the organisation you want to volunteer for.

Our centre will be able to give you contact details for any role that we advertise. The next step is for you to contact volunteer coordinator at your chosen organisation.

Each organisation may have a different response time as some of the co-ordiators may be part time and so if you leave a message, send an email or a letter, we would expect that you would get a response in two weeks. If you do not get a response from an organisation within these times we will be glad to chase them up on your behalf.

Most volunteer co-ordinators will be happy to have a quick chat with you on the phone to answer any questions you have about their organisation or your suitability for the role they have.

5. Apply to volunteer

If after your informal chat you still feel that the role you have chosen is for you, the next stage is known as the formal recruitment process and this will vary from organisation to organisation.

It usually involves a simple applciation form, two reference requests (from anyone who is not your family) and if the role is involving vulnerable adults or children you will be required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. You may also be required to attend an informal interview.

If you have any concerns about this please look at our Common questions or contact one of the team. You should feel free to ask any questions or raise any concerns you might have about the volunteering role. If you are not offered the role you were interested in you should be told the reasons for this.