Are you looking for a volunteering role that fits around your busy schedule? Whether you can only spare an odd hour here and there or need something outside of typical daytime commitments, there are plenty of flexible volunteering opportunities available. Volunteering is a fantastic way to give back to your community, learn new skills, and meet incredible people, all on your own time.
“There’s a volunteering role for everyone. Volunteers are needed with a range of skills and attributes, such as IT, gardening, befriending and more!”
Lynne, Community Volunteer
Why Volunteer?
- Help others: Support local causes, assist those in need, and contribute to a better community.
- Grow personally and professionally: Develop new skills, gain experience, and boost your CV.
- Connect with like-minded people: Meet others who share your passion for making a difference.
“Volunteering is useful for everyone – for the volunteer & for the people you support. I feel happy & useful when I volunteer.”
Farida, Community Volunteer
How to Get Started:
- Find a cause: Choose something you’re passionate about.
- Check local listings: Many organisations offer flexible volunteer opportunities. Search for opportunities near you at VODA’s volunteering portal. We’ve also highlighted lots of flexible roles below for you to take a look at.
- Invite friends: Volunteering is more fun with friends! Invite others to join you and make it a group activity.
Flexible Volunteering Roles in North Tyneside
Many organisations offer roles that don’t require a regular commitment. You can sign up for sessions or tasks as and when you’re free. Here are some options:
- Foodcycle – a number of different roles are available, from welcoming guests, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, helping collect surplus food or managing regional social media pages.
- ParkRun – There is something for everyone at parkrun events; you could be setting up the course, scanning people’s barcodes at the finish or ensuring everyone gets safely around the route as a marshal.
- Good Neighbours – volunteers carry out tasks typical of a ‘good neighbour’ for residents who need support/a helping hand at no cost. The Good Neighbours project focuses on practical support with shopping, picking up prescriptions and other tasks such DIY and gardening.
- Settle at Home – one-off visits to support patients aged 55 and over to settle back at home after a stay in hospital.
- NHS Volunteer Responders – volunteers support people in their local community with activities including friendly phone calls, shopping and prescription delivery.
- Beach Access North East – Support the loan of accessible beach wheelchairs.
- Tin on the Wall – monthly collections of food donations – two hour collection on a Saturday. You can sign up to one Saturday or more than one, whatever you prefer.
Evening and Weekend Opportunities
For those with daytime commitments, there are plenty of evening and weekend options:
- North Tyneside Council Independent Visitor – Could you make a difference and befriend a child or young person living in care? Do you have 6-8 hours a month to spare on an evening or weekend when you could spend time with a young person? If so then you could be that special person!! Meet with a young person at a time to suit you and them – 1 year commitment preferred.
- HostNation – meet with a newly arrived person who is seeking sanctuary, at a time to suit you and them.
- Re-Engage Call Companion – help reduce social isolation by making calls to an older person at a time to suit you and them.
- Age UK North Tyneside Telephone Befriender – Make a new friend through Age UK’s telephone befriending program. You will call a lovely customer on a weekly basis, have a chat & build a friendship. Make calls to an older person at a time to suit you and them. Face-to-Face Befriending roles are also available.
- NightStop Volunteer Host – host a young person in housing crisis for one night at a time, whilst DePaul work with the person to secure longer term accommodation.
- Volunteer Gardener at the Linskill Centre – Learn from local experts and share your knowledge with fellow gardening enthusiasts.
- Safe Families for Children – local volunteers are matched with isolated families where the volunteer offers hope, support and belonging Family Friends can volunteer with parents, children, or young people, depending on the volunteer’s preferences. Support usually takes place on a fortnightly basis for 3-6 months.
- Marie Curie Companion Volunteer – As a Companion volunteer you’ll visit people living with a terminal or life limiting illness in their own homes, offering companionship and support for up to three hours each week.
- Whitley Bay Big Local Weekend Helper – assisting the cafe staff to set up the space, serve drinks and food, as well as general kitchen duties and clearing up. This role will take place as and when parties are booked in.
- Stephenson Steam Museum Tearoom Volunteer – Tearoom volunteers work in groups of two to four; working the till, making hot drinks, serving food and washing up.
- ReadEasy Reading Coach – Developing the literacy skills of an adult Reader who has difficulty with reading. Coaching is two half hour sessions per week for 9-24 months. Times are flexible.
- 5th Tynemouth Scouts Assistant Section Leader – Supporting meetings, programme planning and the of running activities or games. Empowering young people to learn new skills, make new friends and learn to stand on their own two feet.
- Royal Air Force Association – Connections for Life volunteer – providing regular social interaction and support to members of the RAF community via telephone contact.
Flexible Time Commitment Roles
Some roles allow you to volunteer at a time of your choosing:
- akt Community Outreach Volunteer – The akt Outreach Programme aims to spread the word about akt far and wide with the goal of letting as many LGBTQ+ young people as possible know about the services available.
- Cats Protection Fundraising Volunteer or Collection Box Volunteer – help with fundraising or picking up donation boxes.
- Altering Images of Mentality – Membership Volunteer – assist in campaigns to reduce the stigma and discrimination often experienced by people with mental health problems.
- Tools With A Mission – various roles available – the charity collects unwanted usable tools, refurbishes them, sorts them into trade tool kits and sends them to the developing world for livelihood creation.
- RNIB WhatsApp Communication Assistant – If you use WhatsApp already, are aged 16 or over, and have up to 30 minutes spare a month, then RNIB needs your help.
- The Vegan Society – Vegan Community Advocate – Being an Advocate for veganism with The Vegan Society will mean communicating with people in your local community. Advocates are asked to engage in a minimum of four to six actions per year. An example of an action could be writing to an MP or holding a stall.
By volunteering, you can make a significant difference in your community while fitting it around your schedule. Why not give it a try today?
The roles in this blog were live at the time of publishing. If you are unable to find anything suitable, you can search on our online Volunteering Search Portal, or email our Volunteer Centre at volunteering@voda.org.uk to arrange a chat.
