A SELECTION OF

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

AVAILABLE IN THE

HAMBLETON

AREA

Volunteering Hambleton Community House 10 South Parade Northallerton DL7 8SE

Tel. 01609 780458 volunteer.centre@ndvsa.co.uk

Web: www.ndvsa.co.uk

Volunteer Centre Stokesley First Floor Town Close North Road Stokesley TS9 5DH

Tel. 01642 710085 volunteercentre@stokesleycca.org.uk

Web: www.stokesleycca.org.uk

@VolHambleton

Volunteering Hambleton & Volunteer Centre Stokesley Volunteering Hambleton is a service provided by Northallerton & District Voluntary Service Association

1

Index

Page No.

Volunteering Hambleton

2

Thinking of Volunteering?

3

Retail & Fundraising

4 - 5

Health & Social Care

6 - 8

Advice, Support & Counselling

9 - 11

Conservation & Heritage

12 - 13

Animals & Wildlife

14

Children & Young People

15

Information Services

16 - 17

Culture & Sport

18

Administration & Office

19

Computing / Technology

20

Home-based Volunteering & Micro

Volunteering

21

Information Request Form

22

Contacts 23

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Volunteering Hambleton

If you’re thinking of becoming a volunteer in the Hambleton

area of North Yorkshire why not get in touch with Volunteering

Hambleton. As part of a national network of volunteer centres

we can help you find volunteering that is right for you.

From an office base in Northallerton and ‘Charlie’ our pop up

volunteer caravan, we work in partnership with Volunteer Centre

Stokesley, to offer support and advice about volunteering. We

have details of a wide range of different roles available in

Northallerton, Stokesley, Thirsk, Easingwold, Bedale and villages.

We can put you in touch with local charities, community groups,

statutory and public sector organisations looking for voluntary

help.

IF YOU ARE AN ORGANISATION THAT INVOLVES VOLUNTEERS OR

WOULD LIKE TO

We can offer a range of advice and support services from help

with development and promotion of your opportunities to

provision of quality training and information resources designed

to develop and embed good practice in all areas of your

organisation’s volunteer support and management.

IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS SEEKING TO DEVELOP YOUR EMPLOYEE

VOLUNTEERING

Many companies now realise that encouraging their employees

to volunteer is good for business, for team members and for the

community. We can help you identify how you and your

employees can get involved.

We seek to promote more and better volunteering for all.

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Thinking of Volunteering?

Volunteering is a great way to:

Update your CV

Make a difference to yourself and others in your

community

Use existing or develop new skills

Gain experience and qualifications

Build confidence

Meet new people

Have fun

Enhance and add value to services

Feel valued and appreciated

Do good and feel good

Volunteering can be a micro, home based, occasional,

regular, one-off, short or a longer term commitment.

Volunteering can be flexible. Depending on your interests,

time and skills there are many different roles available to

you.

This booklet outlines some for the volunteering roles that

are available in the local area.

Opportunities showing * usually require a volunteer to have

a DBS check (used to be called a CRB check) and provide

contact details for 2 referees. A DBS check is usually

organised and paid for by the host organisation.

You can also find further details on www.do-it.org

4

RETAIL AND FUNDRAISING

CHARITY SHOP HELPER The Hambleton market towns of

Northallerton, Stokesley, Thirsk, Easingwold and Bedale

have a range of charity shops.

These shops are nearly always looking for volunteers to help

with a variety of roles from sorting and pricing clothes,

books, music, accessories and homeware, to steaming

clothes, helping with window displays and serving

customers. Time commitments vary.

Shops also look for drivers to collect and deliver goods

including collection bags.

Helping in a charity shop is a great way to gain retail

experience or show your support for a particular cause.

Many shops are able to take volunteers aged from 14+.

Additionally some shops offer volunteer discounts and an

opportunity to gain retail based National Vocational

Qualifications (NVQs).

5

FUNDRAISER Most local charities and community

groups seek volunteers to help them with their fundraising

activities.

At Volunteering Hambleton we regularly receive requests

for individuals or groups of volunteers who can help with

supermarket bag packs, street and bucket collections,

coffee mornings, distributing, collecting and banking

fundraising boxes, arranging and helping at fundraising

and social events including balls, exhibitions and car boot

sales. Organisations also seek volunteers who can research

and help them to develop and write funding applications.

For the more adventurous, many of the larger national

charities offer opportunities to take part in sponsored walks,

cycle rides, parachute jumps, building abseils, treks or

residencies in foreign countries. Groups also look for people

to help them raise awareness of their work, promote their

fundraising activities and co-ordinate individual’s

sponsored involvement in specific pre-organised events

such as the Great North Run.

Time commitments can vary from a few hours here and

there to whole days, weekends and more. Raising

valuable funds, often as part of a team is a great way to

meet new people (and, as the name suggests have fun!)

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HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

If you have a couple of hours to spare and would like to

make a real difference to someone’s life, including your

own, you may like to consider becoming a:

COMMUNITY VISITOR / BEFRIENDER * A number of

local organisations are looking for people to provide

companionship and support for lonely, socially isolated,

disabled or elderly people in their own home. Time

commitment is usually a regular 1 – 2 hours every week. Full

induction and training are usually provided.

RESPITE SITTER * NDVSA, Herriot Hospice & the

Community Care Associations in Stokesley, Thirsk and

Easingwold are looking for volunteers to sit with a

dependant or friend so their carer can have a well-earned

break for two or three hours.

TELEPHONE BEFRIENDER * Age UK are looking for

people who can provide a friendly, listening ear for people

in North Yorkshire who may be socially or geographically

isolated. Telephone befrienders help keep people in touch

by calling them regularly for a chat. A code is given to be

used before a call so there is no cost to a volunteer.

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ACTIVITIES SUPPORTER * helping alongside staff and

other volunteers, assisting with activities, or in a day care

centre, usually involves talking, listening and supporting

people, serving refreshments and joining in social activities

such as outings, bingo and quizzes etc. Sessions are usually

held on regular days each week/month. Could you help

support adults with learning disabilities, visual impairments,

dementia or those with additional needs?

LUNCH CLUB / KITCHEN HELPER This usually involves

preparing and serving a cooked meal whilst chatting to

people. Time commitment is usually on a rota.

MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERY DRIVER * Drivers are

needed in Thirsk and Bedale to collect meals and deliver

them to clients on a rota. All mileage expenses are usually

met but drivers need their own vehicle and insurance.

HOME FROM HOSPITAL HELPER * Age UK are looking for

people provide practical and emotional short term support

for people after they’ve returned home from hospital to

help them get back into a normal routine and regain their

independence. The role can involve liaising with hospital

staff, assessing how the patient is coping, helping with

essential light household chores, making drinks/light snacks,

collecting prescriptions and shopping.

HOSPITAL HELPER * Local Hospitals often seek volunteers

to support hospital staff in the care and wellbeing of

patients. Roles can range from helping at meal times to

providing therapeutic care. There are also opportunities for

helpers at the Friarage in the hospital shop, escorting on

the wards and to helping with the trolley service.

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HAMBLETON FOOD SHARE HELPER A food share

scheme was set up in Northallerton to provide emergency

food for people in temporary financial crisis and support

customers with identified issues. The service is provided on

a Monday evening in the Zion Church 4 – 7pm, they are

looking for volunteers to help collect, prepare and deliver

food bags and talk to people using the service. The

Hambleton Food Share Group also run a lunch club based

at the Zion Church every Wednesday 11-2 pm. The club

offers homemade soup and a roll and a range of support

services. They are seeking volunteers to assist with food

preparation, serving, washing up and interacting with the

customers.

VOLUNTEER DRIVER * Community Car Schemes across

Hambleton are looking for drivers who can help transport

and assist people who find it difficult to access public

transport due to age or disability. An allowance (usually in

the region of 45p per mile) is paid to cover mileage

expenses

MINI BUS DRIVER/PASSENGER ASSISTANTS * If you enjoy

driving and meeting people this could be the role for you!

Volunteers help with the transportation of passengers and

take groups on day trips. MIDAS certificates are required for

drivers for which free training is usually provided. Some

care homes and community groups also look for volunteer

chaperones to help them take their residents for trips out.

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ADVICE, SUPPORT & COUNSELLING

TRUSTEE/COMMITTEE MEMBER Local groups often look

for people to join their Management Committee as Chair,

Treasurer, Secretary or General Trustee Members.

Volunteering Hambleton can put you in touch with groups

and provide details of the skills, knowledge and experience

they are looking for. Volunteers are also needed to help

review group’s policies and procedures and make

recommendations.

ADVOCATE * Hambleton and Richmondshire Advocacy

seek volunteers who can help people in the community,

with a variety of needs, say what they want, secure their

rights, represent their interests and obtain the services they

need. Full (accredited) training and on-going support is

provided.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION/PUBLIC SPEAKER Many

charities are looking for people who can act as

Community Champions to profile their work in a variety of

different community settings. This is a great opportunity to

raise awareness and gain confidence in talking to groups

of people.

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LISTENING & SUPPORT VOLUNTEER * Could you be

available to answer calls and respond to emails from

people who are vulnerable, depressed or in emotional

distress. A “Samaritan Volunteer” can make a difference.

Or could you offer independent, confidential, and

impartial advice on subjects including debts, benefits,

housing, and immigration. You don’t need to be a legal

expert, just willing to learn new. Full training and on-going

support is provided. A great opportunity if you want to

develop work related skills.

APPROPRIATE ADULT/ YOUTH JUSTICE SERVICE

VOLUNTEER * Volunteers are often required who are

aged 18+ to support young people aged 10 – 17 who have

been arrested and detained by the police or who can

support their work in preventing re-offending by young

people.

WORK PROGRAMME MENTOR * Be a key link and work

in partnership with a skills trainer to support vulnerable

young people aged 18 – 24 moving into employment,

many for the first time, and without existing support.

Extensive training and support is given.

VOLUNTEER HOST * Support young people in North

Yorkshire who are homeless, or potentially homeless, by

providing a safe place to stay. A young person stays for

one night at a time with volunteers. Stays are arranged on

a nightly basis.

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YOUNG PERSONS SUPPORT VOLUNTEER * Do you have

an interest in working with children and young people and

want to gain some experience or use your skills to support

young people. If you have energy, commitment and the

knack of communicating with young people this is a great

way to accompany the specialist teams at Hambleton &

Richmondshire Carers and Mental Health Support.

POLICE SUPPORT VOLUNTEER * North Yorkshire Police

have developed a programme to fully involve volunteers

with the work of the Police. Roles include Community

Safety Volunteers, Survey Team Members, Volunteer Team

Leaders, Front Counter Volunteers and Drivers. The Office

of the Police Crime Commissioner sometimes also have

roles.

CIRCLE MEMBER * Carefully selected and trained

volunteers meet as a circle of 4 – 6 people working in

partnership with criminal justices agencies to support ex-sex

offenders. Meetings are initially held on a weekly basis as a

group with the core member and a Circle usually lasts for

about a year.

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CONSERVATION & HERITAGE

RECYCLING Are you passionate about environmental

issues and eager to reduce waste? North Yorkshire Rotters

are looking for Community Engagement Volunteers to work

in schools, at agricultural shows, community fairs and

events giving talks to people about composting and

recycling on a 1:1 basis and small groups.

WALK LEADERS Leaders and Young Walk Leaders are

needed to lead, plan and assess walks in all Hambleton

towns. The walks are aimed at people who have not

walked before or are coming back to walking after illness.

Most of the walks start from a doctors surgery or a leisure

centre. The time commitment is usually a minimum of 2 to

3 hours a month or more if you have time available.

COUNTRYSIDE VOLUNTEER Committed volunteers are

needed to undertake activities led by Rangers, helping out

with a range of practical tasks such as fencing, pond and

ground clearance.

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CONSERVATION / HERITAGE VOLUNTEER ….

If you have an interest in historic buildings, gardens,

woodland, nature reserves and parkland conservation, the

National Trust & English Heritage often have opportunities

to help maintain their diverse range of properties and

extensive grounds. Volunteer roles are extremely varied

and usually seasonal. Our local nature reserves also seek

volunteers to help with their day to day maintenance.

VISIT WOODLANDS Do you have the time to visit your

local woodlands? Volunteers are required to capture what

makes each wood special in words, photos and symbols,

share their knowledge.

RAILWAY VOLUNTEERS Wensleydale Railway offer a

wide range of volunteer roles from helping with track

maintenance, carriage valets, office administration and

event organising to serving customers on the trains and in

the information kiosk.

MUSEUM ASSISTANT Do you have an interest in local

history or just like meeting people? Our local museums are

seeking volunteers who can welcome visitors and give

information about what is on view. There are also roles

available for people to help behind the scenes. This

volunteering is often seasonal from April – end of summer.

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ANIMALS & WILDLIFE

RESCUE CENTRES The RSPCA Centre at Great Ayton, the

Blue Cross & Jerry Green near Thirsk and Dogs Trust in

Darlington are all within travelling distance of the

Hambleton area and they are often looking for volunteers

to help look after the animals, fundraise and raising the

profile of the charity. Opportunities available include Dog

Walking, Grooming, Feeding, Dog Behaviour, Story Time,

Play Time, Meet & Match, Administration and Home

Checking.

RIDING FOR THE DISABLED Riding for the Disabled

Groups are looking for volunteers to lead or walk beside a

pony helping the rider to respond to instructions.

Volunteers are needed to assist riders in their lessons by

leading or side walking and to help with general stable

yard work. Sessions are usually term time and Saturdays

and last for an hour or two.

ANIMAL FOSTER CARERS Local groups are seeking

people to provide a temporary home for rescued animals,

particularly cats.

DOG WALKERS Charities occasionally look for people in

the local area to help keep frail or ill pet owners and their

pets together. They match up volunteers with the elderly or

the terminally ill who need assistance with tasks such as

dog walking or cleaning cages.

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CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

YOUTH BUDDY * Life can be a lonely path for some

young people. North Yorkshire Youth are looking people to

provide one-to-one support for 16 – 19 years olds in the

Hambleton area in need of additional support. By

volunteering to befriend someone for as little as an hour a

week you can help them to make better choices in life.

YOUTH WORK HELPER * Volunteers are needed to

provide general supervision and support for young people

aged 11 – 19 at regular weekly sessions in youth centres

across Hambleton.

DELIVERER OF TALKS IN SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES * A

number of organisations are seeking volunteers to deliver

presentations and interactive workshops to primary school

aged children. All materials are usually provided and

volunteers are given regular training and support.

SCOUTS / GUIDES Rewarding and challenging roles are

sometimes available within the local Scout and Guide

groups.

CARERS SUPPORT Could you volunteer to sit with a child

with special needs? Thirsk Carers Support are looking for

volunteers to help across the area.

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INFORMATION SERVICES

TOURIST INFORMATION ADVISER Hambleton Tourist

Information Centres are seeking volunteers to help

maintain their seasonal service to visitors and the local

population. A great way to meet people and enthuse

about the lovely area we live in!

North Yorkshire Libraries are looking for volunteers to help

them develop and deliver a range of services. Current

Volunteer opportunities include:

HOME LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICE Volunteers

are needed to deliver books, audio books and information

to people who can’t access the Library because of illness

or disability. Time commitment is usually 2 hours a fortnight

on a regular basis.

SELECTION & RETURN In this role volunteers work

alongside library staff to choose appropriate library books

and other materials for people who use the home library

and information service (HLIS).

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CHAMPION During the

summer month’s libraries often look for enthusiastic young

people to encourage and support children with their

Summer Reading Challenge.

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CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES Volunteers help children get the

most from the range of resources available. You could get

involved with Storytelling to groups of children and their

parents or carers and assist with, or lead craft activities for

children.

LIBRARY EVENT HOST Local studies volunteers work

alongside library staff providing customers with additional

assistance in family history and help the library service

promote and develop interest in local studies. READING GROUP HOST Work alongside library staff to

help both newcomers and current users get the most from

the range of resources available at the library and

facilitate discussion about the books read.

IT SUPPORT VOLUNTEER North Yorkshire Libraries are

looking for volunteers who can help people develop their

computer skills and assist library staff in supporting users

attending IT taster sessions.

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CULTURE & SPORT

EVENT HELPER There is always a range of one off events

and festivals requiring volunteers to help, either in advance

or on the day. Contact Volunteering Hambleton for details

of the latest local opportunities.

ARTS VENUE VOLUNTEER Northallerton Forum, Rural Arts

and the Ritz Cinema in Thirsk have available a wide variety

of volunteer roles for people to help with administration

and office work, publicity and marketing, distribution and

delivery, reception duties, catering, exhibitions and even

being cinema projectionists. There are also roles for people

interested in sound, lighting and AV.

CRAFT /WOODWORK / NURSERY ASSISTANT There are

a range of opportunities for volunteers to provide support

with woodworking, landscaping, garden nursery work and

arts and crafts. Could you help someone increase their

confidence and self-esteem as well as increase their skills,

provide social contact and help them return to work where

possible?

SPORTS VOLUNTEERING, COACHING, OFFICIATING…. North Yorkshire Sport provides sporting opportunities for

young people throughout North Yorkshire via delivery of

Sport England Active Sports Programme. Potential roles

available including coaching, officiating and events staff

for Festivals, Youth Games etc.

ACTIVITY & EXERCISE HELPER Volunteers are often

needed to help with gentle exercise sessions,

chairaerobics, tea dances and craft clubs.

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ADMINISTRATION & OFFICE

VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR * No this isn’t

a typing error, a number of local organisations are seeking

a volunteer to help them co-ordinate their volunteers. Roles

include vetting potential volunteers, allocating regular

duties and ensuring volunteers receive ongoing support

and development. A great opportunity to show that you

can manage people and systems!

OFFICE HELPER/RECEPTIONIST Many organisations are

looking for volunteers to help in their offices. Duties vary but

include answering the telephone, collating information,

dealing with post and mail outs, entering information into

databases and other general office duties. This kind of

volunteering is a great way to gain current work

experience, update skills or help organisations who help

others.

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COMPUTING/TECHNOLOGY

PUBLICITY, MARKETING & SOCIAL NETWORK VOLUNTEER Local groups are looking for volunteers to help them create

publicity, write and distribute press releases, develop

websites or update and use social networking ‘platforms’

such as Facebook and Twitter. A great way to help a

group if you are a digital native!

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HOMEBASED VOLUNTEERING & MICRO

VOLUNTEERING

Help From Home is a volunteer driven initiative that

promotes and encourages participation in easy, no

commitment, and on-demand non-profit run micro

volunteering opportunities where a spare 10 seconds to 30

minutes is all that is needed to help out worthy causes.

They also have various other ongoing micro volunteering

projects, including:

Help From Work – encouraging people to volunteer during

their lunch break, without leaving their office environment.

Help From Seniors – encouraging senior citizens to

volunteer without getting out of their armchair.

Help From Holiday – encouraging people to think about

responsible tourism by volunteering before, during or after

their holiday.

Skills 4 You – enabling the unemployed or people currently

in a job to expand their skill set via micro volunteering

actions, for eventual inclusion in their CV.

See their website for opportunities in the Hambleton area

www.helpfromhome.org/

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My areas of interest:

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Please send me some information on the following

volunteering opportunities:

Name………………………………………………………

Address……………………………………………………

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Postcode………………………………………………….

Contact No………………………………………………

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For further details please contact:

Volunteering Hambleton

Community House

10 South Parade

Northallerton

DL7 8SE

Tel. 01609 780458

Email: volunteer.centre@ndvsa.co.uk

Web: www.ndvsa.co.uk

Volunteer Centre Stokesley

First Floor

Town Close

North Road

Stokesley

TS9 5DH

Tel. 01642 710085

Email: volunteercentre@stokesleycca.org.uk

Web: www.stokesleycca.org.uk

or see: www.do-it.org