Gateshead Volunteer Centre

What is Gateshead Volunteer Centre?

The purpose of the Centre is to improve the health and wellbeing of Gateshead residents through volunteering.

Each week, the Gateshead Volunteer Centre team operates from: Birtley Library, Teams Life Centre, Winlaton Community Centre, and The Bank in Chopwell. View the full timetable of drop-in sessions at our Supported Volunteering page.

To search for volunteering opportunities through OurGateshead, visit our Volunteering Opportunities page.

Help and support is available

Whether you're an organisation or an individual, you can contact us about anything regarding volunteering!

Gateshead Volunteer Centre aims to:

1.   Make volunteering in Gateshead easier to access

Volunteering should be open to all regardless of background or ability.  By developing and promoting the OurGateshead website as a central volunteering portal, we will work to increase the reach of volunteering opportunities.  We will also work with organisations who involve volunteers to ensure their roles are open to and appropriate for a wide range of different people.

2.   Focus on the people who need additional support into volunteering

By tailoring our support for those people who may need some confidence-building or additional practical support, we will help to break down barriers to volunteering and encourage as many people as possible to volunteer.  We will work with organisations who have extensive local knowledge and the specialist skills to support a diverse range of volunteers.

3.   Develop skills and support employment

Volunteering is a recognised vehicle for skills development and experience which provides a pathway into education, employment, or training.  By working with local employment support providers, we will support the people furthest from employment to help them achieve their potential through volunteering.

4.   Support the people who support volunteers

We recognise the importance of volunteer professionals.  By developing a vibrant Gateshead Volunteer Coordinators’ Network, we will provide peer support, encourage collaboration, and share and promote best practice.

5.   Build understanding of the value of volunteering

We know that volunteering creates social capital and helps to build resilient communities. We will work strategically to promote the value of volunteering and its mutual benefits by celebrating the impact of volunteering on individuals, organisations and the wider community.