How can I get involved?

If you are looking to volunteer then we at the Volunteer Centre Sunderland are here to help. We can inform you of the opportunities available and help you choose the one that best matches your interests, experience and situation. We don’t directly recruit volunteers, but we will put you in touch with an organisation who is looking for someone like you to support them in their work.

You make no commitment by talking to us but you can enquire about 100's of different volunteering opportunities that are available we offer ongoing support and advice about anything to do with your voluntary involvement and we don't charge or judge and we keep things confidential.

How to get involved

We offer a range of ways for people to access information on volunteering

• Make an appointment to talk one to one and confidentially with a member of the team in the main office in Sunderland or at one of our outreach points in Washington or Hetton.

• View our opportunities on line by logging on to the Do-It website (see top of the page). This is a brilliant way to browse local opportunities in your own time, at your own convenience and you even have the option of applying for chosen opportunities on line.

• Visit one of our Volunteering Awareness Events and meet with organisations looking to recruit volunteers.  To view further information on these events view our News and events page.

Once an application has been to to volunteer with an organisation we will put you in touch with them.  Should you require any further help accessing these opportunities then we are always here to help.

What are the benefits of volunteering

By giving your spare time to a local voluntary and community organisation not only will they be gaining from your help but you could also gain in the following ways:

• improve your CV
• meet new people
• fill spare time
• develop or learn skills
• gain new experience
• meet a new challenge
• explore new ideas and areas of life

Whatever your reason it's a good one - there are no bad reasons for giving time!

E-Newsletters:

To find out about some of the latest volunteering opportunities that require your help view our volunteering e-newsletters:

February 2010   

• Vinvolved  - Action Earth Day & Charity bike ride
• Rainbow Trust
• Wearside First Credit Union
• Sue Ryder Care

• AV Festival

• Nightstop North East

• Victim Support
• Hadrians Wall
• NSPCC
• Volunteer Centre - Volunteer Driving Service

March 2010

• Volunteering Awareness Event
• Community Transformation Programme
• NE Sport CIC
• RAce for Life
• NSPCC
• Bridge
• Volunteer Centre - Volunteer Befrienders

April 2010

• British Heart Foundation
• Wildfowl & Wetlands
• Sunderland Advocacy for Empowerment
• Cancer Research Uk
• The Leprosy Mission
• Depaul Uk - Nightstop
• Wearside Women In Need
• Playing for Success
• Royal National Institute for the Blind

June 2010

• Volunteer Awareness Event
• Volunteer Centre Befriending Service and Driving Service
• Sainsburys UK School Games
• Cancer Research
• Hendon Young People's Project
• Wellness Walks
• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust