Training and Events

• Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Training – 18th November

Delivered by Volunteer Centre Project Workers, this training is aimed at anyone who is responsible for the recruitment and supervision of volunteers within an organisation and will cover best practice and helpful suggestions and tips on the recruitment and retention of volunteers.  Places range from £5 – £30 to book a place and please contact Rob Charlton at Sunderland CVS on (0191) 5651566 or rob.charlton@sunderlandcvs.co.uk.

• Introduction to Volunteering

The Volunteer Centre recently held its 3rd Introduction to Volunteering event which proved successful once again. The event is run in the style of similar speed networking events, allowing those attending 4 minutes to chat with organisations before moving on to the next until all organisations have been visited.

Due to the success of these events we will be hosting

more in the up coming months. The dates of which can be found below:

Tuesday 5th May, 10.00am - 12.00 noon (venue TBC)

Thursday 14th May at Bede College (time TBC)

• Speak Up! Speak Out!

A training day aimed to improve people's public speaking will be taking place on Thursday 25th June at Angel House, Borough Road.  The one day course will help participants learn how to speak with confidence and clarity, think on their feet, improve their presentation skills and enjoy public speaking.  Place for the course will cost:

Statutory organisations  £50

Voluntary & Community sector organisations £20

Small organisations  £ negotiable

and can be booked by contacting Sharon at the Volunteer Centre

• Volunteer Toolkit Launch

Sunderland City Council and the Volunteer Centre Sunderland have been working in partnership to produce a volunteering toolkit for organisations. The brand new toolkit, which was launched on the 27th March, is aimed at organisations involving volunteers and will prove a useful guide on all volunteering issues. For example it will provide essential information including application forms, expenses, induction example procedures and will even advise organisations on how to meet legal requirements to protect volunteers, the organisation and its services.

For further information about the volunteering toolkit or to order a copy please contact the Volunteer Centre.

            25th Year Anniversary  

To celebrate National Volunteers Week, the Sunderland Volunteer Centre in partnership with Sunderland Volunteering Forum will be hosting two events. 

Volunteers Week Celebration Event

The first event will be a celebration of the city's current volunteers their dedication and support of the sector.  The event will be held on Tuesday 2nd June at the Sunderland University's, Bonded Warehouse and will feature a range of activities and entertainment along with a buffet lunch and free prize raffle.  The event will be open to anybody who volunteers for the voluntary and community sector within the city and wish to take part in a fun day out. Tickets will be charged at £2 per volunteer, should you wish book a place please click on the link Volunteers Week.

Volunteers Week Awareness Event

The second event is a Volunteer Awareness raising event to be held on Saturday 6th of June (venue still to be confirmed).  The event will aim raise local people's awareness of the vast range of volunteering opportunities across the city and the massive benefits of becoming a volunteer.  If you are an organisation that would like to attend this event please get in touch with the Volunteer Centre to book a place.

Volunteer Centre Outreach Appointments

The Volunteer Centre now operates outreach appointments in various locations across the city making it easier for local people to access our services.  Development workers will come out to both the coalfields area (Houghton, Hetton etc) and Washington and meet with local people on an appointment basis, to discuss and guide people into suitable volunteering opportunities.  Anyone wishing to book an appointment can call the Volunteer Centre on the number below.

Volunteering Magazine

A magazine was recently put together by the Volunteer Centre Sunderland and Sunderland City Council to highlight the benefits of volunteering to local people and the services available at the Centre. The magazine features case studies of local volunteers and their stories. These can be found on our website and can be viewed by clicking on the following link. Volunteer Magazine. This is a new feature to the website and we would love to hear from any of your volunteers who would like to features on this page.

9th East Durham Boys Brigade

The Boys Brigade is a Charity aiming to provide a safe environment where young people (male and female) can become involved in all kinds of fun and rewarding activities. They currently have two opportunities for people to become involved as volunteer. The first is a Club helper, where volunteers will be expected to make a regular commitment to assist with the organisation of the events. This will include planning and carrying out a schedule of activities, both in the club premises and outdoors. The second is a Club Workshop volunteer, who will also plan and carry out a schedule of activities as well as well as helping the young members to make bird boxes, stools etc. Volunteers should be flexible with good planning and communication skills. Enthusiasm and a sense of humour are essential together with the ability to get along with young people.