Volunteer Case Studies

Formerly a bus driver, North Shields resident John Kirk, has been making the most of his free time volunteering in several roles. After providing voluntary administration support at VODA for a few years, John has lately been involved in a number of new community programmes, including those at the Linskill Centre and Way Out in Gateshead.

“I feel like I have a new lease of life,” said John. “I’ve taken part in an outdoor activities programme and tried things like kayaking, which I’ve never done before. For me, volunteering keeps me busy and active, and I’ve met some great people through the different roles I’ve had. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who has recently retired and has some spare time on their hands.”

Dymphna O’Connor comes from Cork in Ireland but calls North Tyneside her part-time home. Having stumbled across the Old Low Light Centre whilst exploring North Shields Fish Quay, Dymphna noticed a poster advertising volunteering opportunities.

“I collect seashells and enjoy crafts myself, so I was interested in all of the collections and memorabilia here anyway. When I saw the volunteering poster I thought ‘why not?’ and asked about it,” said Dymphna, who now volunteers in the Centre’s café on a regular basis. When asked what she enjoys most about volunteering, Dymphna said “Meeting new people – everyone who works and volunteers here, and the people who come in to visit are all really lovely.”