Volunteering - Get Involved

Volunteering for Newcastle City Council

Volunteering is an important part of the work we do. Sometimes we offer volunteering opportunities within the council which enhance the wide range of services we provide to communities.

The principles of volunteering

Our volunteering policy was written with the support of Volunteer Centre Newcastle. We work towards four principles of volunteering:
•Choice - people must be free to choose to volunteer, no one is forced to volunteer. Volunteers are also free to choose not to volunteer.
•Diversity - volunteering is open to all, regardless of background, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, faith or other factors.  However, some projects may not be suitable for particular groups of people to volunteer in and this can be discussed with the volunteer.
•Reciprocity - in return for giving their time, energy and skills, volunteers expect to gain something. This could include a sense of worthwhile achievement, useful skills, experience and contacts, sociability and fun or inclusion in the life of the organisation.
•Recognition - we want to recognise volunteers’ contributions to the council, the community, the social economy and wider social objectives.

Where can I volunteer?

Different departments within the council have volunteers and the type of volunteers roles the Council offers can vary.  We advertise our volunteer opportunities through the Volunteer Centre Newcastle. There are also a range of opportunities to get involved such as in community clean ups in your local area.

We also support a number of groups which are either partly or fully run by volunteers. If you are interested in finding out more please contact your local Communities Officer.

What can I expect as a Newcastle City Council volunteer?

As a council we will endeavour to provide the best in volunteering opportunities and high quality support for those who volunteer with us. You will have a supervisor, who will provide you with a clear role, explaining what is expected of you and when you are needed to volunteer. You should be offered an induction to your role and any relevant training required should be provided.

The amount of time you can spend in a volunteering role is also flexible. It can vary from an hour a week  to much, much more. Similarly the skills you need to volunteer can be the ones you already have, or you could learn and develop new different skills in your volunteer role.

Why is it different if I am under 16?

Some roles will not be suitable for children and young people (if you are under the age of 18), you can check this when you contact us. 

Who do I contact about volunteering with Newcastle City Council?

If you are a member of the public looking for help or advice on volunteering in Newcastle, or if you are an organisation or group looking for volunteers, you should contact Volunteer Centre Newcastle

What services to Volunteer Centre Newcastle Provide?

Volunteer Centre Newcastle (VCN) is a service funded by Newcastle City Council. They exist to promote, support, and celebrate volunteering locally. On a day-to-day basis, Volunteer Centre Newcastle:

• Support members of the public to find a suitable volunteering role, which matches their interests, goals, needs, skills and experience

• Enable places and people to connect, allowing the unique power of volunteering to make an impact within our communities

• Provide advice, information, training and support to over 1200 charities, organisations and groups across Newcastle, related to anything around volunteering.

• Championing volunteering, helping to enhance the quality, quantity and impact of volunteering across Newcastle, and taking part in various events and forums

What is the Newcastle Volunteer Passport Scheme?

Newcastle’s innovative “Volunteer Passport Scheme” is funded by Newcastle City Council. If you are interested in volunteering, but uncertain about the right role for you, or if you would like to volunteer in multiple positions, then the Volunteer Passport Scheme could be for you!

By becoming a Passport Scheme volunteer, volunteers only need to complete 1 single recruitment and training process, which then enables access to a wide range of 40+ volunteering roles across Newcastle, provided by a network of over 30 charities and groups. This means you can get involved in volunteering more quickly and easily! It also means if you want to change your volunteering role, or do something different later down the line, you will not need to go through another recruitment or training process to get started. Further information can be found here.

Interested in becoming a “Good Neighbour”? 

Beginning in 2025, Newcastle City Council are working in partnership with the national charity Volunteering Matters to set up a “Good Neighbours” volunteering project. 

We would all like to live in a place that has a sense of community, where people have positive health and wellbeing, and look out for their neighbours. The Good Neighbours project in Newcastle aims to achieve exactly that, with volunteers giving that “little bit of help” to people who may not have many people around them, are socially isolated, older, have a disability, or otherwise in need. 

Volunteers can choose from a wide range of available tasks or activities on an ongoing basis, through an innovative volunteering app called “Volunteero”. 

The volunteering role is fully flexible meaning that volunteers can pick and choose which tasks they are interested in completing, and when. 

Some examples include helping someone with grocery shopping, collecting and delivering medical prescriptions, driving a person to their GP/hospital appointment, accompanying someone to a social activity, being a telephone buddy, helping with odd jobs around the house, light gardening, checking in with someone for a cuppa and chat, and lots more. 

Volunteers who take part in often report increased wellbeing, and enhanced skills, while having the opportunity to “give back”. People who access the service also enhance their wellbeing, feel safer, more supported, and more able to live an independent life. To become a Good Neighbour, or for more details, visit the Volunteer Centre Newcastle website