Are you aged 18 or under? Are you ready to make an impact, learn new skills, and meet amazing people? Volunteering is your chance to help your local community and perhaps change the world while changing your life for the better!
There are many volunteering roles across North Tyneside suitable for under-18s. The team from the North Tyneside Volunteer Centre has put together this blog highlighting what is out there, as well as showing the benefits of getting involved and how you can get started on your volunteering journey, including access to our free online training course ‘An Introduction To Volunteering’.
Why Volunteer?
Build Our Future
Gain real-world experience, boost your CV, and develop skills that will help you and others, whether it’s planning, teamwork, or creative problem-solving, volunteering offers valuable life lessons.
Connect & Grow
Meet like-minded people who share your passion for making a difference. Build friendships while you help out and grow as an individual.
Make an Impact
Your time and energy can change lives. Whether it’s helping your local community, supporting global causes, or protecting the environment, your contribution matters!
Watch this inspiring video to see how local young volunteers are making a difference in North Tyneside!
Get Involved!
Flexible Opportunities
Whether you have an hour or a weekend, there’s a volunteer role for you! Choose from a range of opportunities that align with your interests.
Fun & Rewarding
Volunteering isn’t just about giving back—it’s about discovering new passions, having fun, and feeling the satisfaction of making a difference.
Volunteer with Friends
Volunteering is even more enjoyable with friends! Invite others to join you and make it a group activity or make new friends through volunteering.
Ready to Get Started?
Explore a world of opportunities by searching VODA’s Volunteering Database and you can also take a look at the local volunteering roles below that are suitable for young people.
Opportunities for Under 18s
Here are some examples of volunteering opportunities available for young people under 18. Please check each role for specific age requirements. Each organisation can provide more details to help you find the right fit.
Awareness Raising & Research Roles
- Dementia Friends: Help raise awareness of dementia and how communities can support people living with it. Dementia Friends wants school children and young people to be involved, as well as older people. Attend a 45-minute information session and then engage in awareness-raising activities. The volunteering is at any time you want, as it involves talking to friends, family, school groups etc. No minimum age.
- Zooniverse – Citizen Science Projects: Join the world’s largest platform for people-powered research. Zooniverse encourages public engagement with research for all ages, though the platform may be more suitable for older children. Parents and guardians must supervise children if they are contributing to any message boards. Information for parents/guardians is here.
- North Tyneside Council Participation Team : Opportunities for young people to give their views on issues affecting young people in North Tyneside. Minimum age 11.
- Diabetes UK Micro Volunteer: Small actions can make a big impact. If you can help to share key messages and raise awareness of diabetes, the Diabetes UK North of England team would love to hear from you. Minimum age 16.
- Engagement & Research Volunteer at Healthwatch North Tyneside: Observe health and care services, listen to people’s views, and promote Healthwatch at community venues and events. Minimum age 16.
Sports & Outdoor Activities
- ParkRun: Volunteer at this weekly sports event in various roles. Children aged 4-11 can volunteer with a parent/carer. Over 11s can volunteer independently at Whitley Bay & Rising Sun Country Park.
- Recyke Y’Bike Young Volunteers Club: Meet new people, gain confidence and learn about bike maintenance. Minimum age 11.
- Walkie Dogs Walk Leader: Walkie Dogs organise weekly social walks across the UK. As a Pack Leader, your role is to encourage and motivate people to be more active, increasing their confidence and reduce levels of isolation – as well as ensuring walks are friendly, safe and fun for all attending. All Pack Leaders are ambassadors of Walkie Dogs and for the city they represent. Minimum age 16.
Retail Volunteering
- Barnardo’s Retail Volunteer: Be a friendly face at Barnardo’s shops in Whitley Bay and Wallsend. Minimum age 14.
- St Oswald’s Hospice Retail Volunteer: Whether you see yourself creatively dressing windows, sorting and preparing stock, or front and centre behind the till, retail volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people, gain experience and skills for your CV and of course to generate income for St Oswald’s Hospice. Minimum age 14.
- Marie Curie Retail Volunteer: Assist in sorting, preparing, and selling donated items to support Marie Curie’s mission to raise funds so their nurses can continue to provide care to terminally ill people and support for their families. Minimum age 14.
- British Heart Foundation – Retail Volunteer: Retail Volunteering Taster Sessions allow you to see what goes on behind the scenes, meet the team, ask any questions you may have and give volunteering a go. It’s a little like try before you buy. Minimum age 16.
Environment & Conservation
- National Trust Seaton Delaval Hall Gardens Volunteer: Help with the upkeep, development and protection of some of the most beautiful and important gardens and parklands in the UK – so visitors and wildlife can enjoy them. Minimum age 14.
- Tyne Rivers Trust Practical Conservation Support: Spend time outdoors, meet new people and help to improve the river. Volunteers carry out practical tasks that improve habitat and make the river a better place to be. Minimum age 16.
- North Tyneside Youth Climate Strike: Take action on climate change.
- Woodland Walk Designer and Gardener: Regular tasks would include tending to the plants and vegetable gardens, seasonal planting, weeding, and pruning and general gardening maintenance.
- Log a Wildlife Sighting: Record wildlife sightings while out and about on the ERIC North East Portal. Your sightings will be added to a central database and used by a variety of ecological and conservation organisations. Minimum age 16.
- Newcastle Wood Recycling: Get involved in collecting wood from building sites, preparing wood, making products, working in retail, or helping behind the scenes. Minimum age 16.
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Red Seal Rescue Boats: Red Seal Rescue provide safety cover for a variety of events on or near water. This could be rowing, sailing or land based events. Minimum age 13.
- Kids Against Plastic: A youth-led charity is dedicated to empowering youth and young adults to take action against plastic pollution and the climate crisis. Any age.
Technology & Digital
- Barnardo’s Online Research Volunteer: Based in one of the retail stores, you will identify items that will be more suitable for online sale. Fully researching the items, ensuring that they sold previously and/or are likely to sell, then prepare the items for safe transport to the online sales department. Minimum age 14. Available in Whitley Bay, Shiremoor and Wallsend.
- British Heart Foundation Online Listings Volunteer: Help create online sales listings to promote the varied items that the British Heart Foundation sell. Full support is available to make sure you develop the skills and experience needed to become an expert online lister. Minimum age 16.
- Help Me Be Digital : Help local people to get online and develop their digital skills. Minimum age 14.
- Tyne & Wear Museums – Online Collections Dive In!: Share information online about the interesting museum collections.
Youth Leadership Programmes
- Scouts Young Leaders Scheme: Minimum age 14.
- Guides Young Leader Development Programme: Minimum age 14.
- DiscoverMe – Reinvent Us: Supports positive mental wellbeing for young people aged 16-25. Various volunteering roles are available. Minimum age 16.
Community Volunteering
- Good Neighbours: Help with tasks to support people in your community. The Good Neighbours team will discuss roles suitable for your age. Minimum age 16.
- Food & Solidarity Volunteer Delivery Driver: Deliver crates of food to people in the West End of Newcastle or Cowgate on a Saturday morning from their base in NE4 or Cowgate NE5. Volunteers are invited to join Food and Solidarity as members, which allows them to participate in the democratic decision-making processes of the organisation. Minimum age 17.
- Kitchen Volunteer – Forest Hall Young People’s Centre: Help to prepare and serve food on matchdays (kitchen role only). Minimum age 14.
- NCT Joint Community Builder: – THE NCT supports people as they become parents. NCT Community Builders engage with parents and the local community to understand where support is needed. Minimum age 16.
- Stephenson Steam Railway Tearooms Volunteer: Work in groups to run the tearoom, handling tasks such as working the till, serving food, and washing up.
- Tin on a Wall : Take part in monthly collections of food donations. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult.
Fundraising
- Alzheimer’s Society Community Fundraising Ambassador: Help to identify potential new funding supporters, raise awareness and to inspire people in your local area to know more about dementia. Minimum age 16.
- Marie Curie Fundraising Volunteer: Use your spare time to raise funds to help people get the care and support they need at the end of their lives. Minimum age 16.
Additional Opportunities
- EmpowHER social action resource toolkit: This toolkit from UK Youth has lots of ideas on developing a project to make a difference.
- The Eden Project Community Project Bank: Contains lots of community project ideas, some which are suitable for young people. Please note, these are not linked to an organisation so it would be important to think about health and safety of carrying out one of these projects independently.
- The RSPCA Ideas for Under 18s: A list of ideas for young people who want to support the work of the RSPCA.
Training for New Volunteers
If you’re new to volunteering, VODA offers a free online training course—‘An Introduction to Volunteering’—to help you get started with confidence.
Be a Local Hero
Volunteering is your chance to be a real-life superhero in North Tyneside. Whether you’re raising awareness about important issues, protecting the environment, or supporting vulnerable communities, there’s a role for you.
For further information and support, you can speak to one of VODA’s friendly and knowledgeable Volunteer Coordinators. Email your contact details to volunteering@voda.org.uk and one of the team will get back to you to arrange a chat.
Based in Newcastle? The Newcastle Volunteer Centre has a web page dedicated to volunteering roles for under 18s.
Please note: the volunteering roles in this blog were live as of 4 September 2024 when this article was published. If the role you want is no longer available, please contact the organisation, or search on VODA’s Volunteering Database to find alternative roles.
