If you're considering volunteering as a way to enhance your career prospects, to improve your wellbeing, or to give something back to the local community, our blog gives you all the information you need to know what it's really like to volunteer with the Teamwork charities in Gateshead.
We've tried to leave no stone unturned, but if you would like to skip certain questions, simply click on a question below to take you straight to the answer you're looking for.
What is volunteering?
Volunteering refers to the act of providing one's time, knowledge, skills, and/or experience to support an organisation, often a charity. These organisations often have specific long or short-term goals, such as addressing social, environmental, or community issues.
What do volunteers do?
Charities offer volunteers a wealth of opportunities to get involved or to gain experience in a sector or area they’d like to pursue as a career. Volunteers can undertake a broad range of tasks during their time with a charity. Here are just a few examples:-
fundraising
planning, organising and/or delivering an event
getting involved in the day to day activities
providing practical assistance
promoting (either online, in the community, or both) the charity's work, impact or services.
How do I become a volunteer?
The first step is to think about the type of contribution you'd like to make, what assistance you'd like to offer and the causes or aims you're most passionate about. If your goal is enhance your career prospects in a specific field, it might be helpful to list the types of volunteering opportunities that would give you the skills that would help you to achieve this.
The next step is to look for opportunities.
National websites such as DO IT, and local online directories such as OurGateshead are great places to search. Alternatively, if you know of a specific charity or charities that you would ideally like to volunteer with, you may wish to contact them directly to enquire about potential opportunities or visit their website to see if there they have a volunteer application process.
To volunteer with Teamwork's charities, simply get in touch via our website's volunteer page. Alternatively we can have an informal chat over email (vacancies@teamwork-dt.co.uk) or on the telephone (0191 4900945). We also post our current opportunities on the Do It website and OurGateshead.
Will I need to attend an interview?
Most volunteering opportunities will require an informal meet and greet with the charity, or someone who leads the charity, to ensure you are right for the role, that the role is right for you, and to make sure you are happy with the arrangements before starting in the role. Here at Teamwork, we have a very informal chat, rather than an interview and we have a very short application form to fill in. We take this opportunity to:-
To show you around the premises
Introduce ourselves
Find out more about you and why you would like to volunteer
To talk about our work and how volunteering helps
To arrange a time to come in and try out volunteering
Why do people volunteer?
Everyone who volunteers has their own reason for doing so, whether that be personal or professional. Here are just some of the many reasons why people volunteer with us at Teamwork:-
To help when looking for work by having more skills, knowledge and experience
To meet new people
Because they passionate about a particular cause
To keep active and busy
To improve their wellbeing or mental health
To give back/pay it forward with their time if they have been supported themselves with the issues that the charity is addressing
Why do charities need volunteers?
Charities need volunteers to help them with their cause. Here at Teamwork, we have a few voluntary opportunities that make a significant difference to achieving our aims.
Foundations Furniture for example, needs volunteers to help towards alleviating the impact of furniture poverty, whilst helping the local environment through furniture reuse.
Teams and Bensham Community Care needs volunteers to help older people to feel connected and to alleviate the ill effects of loneliness and vulnerability by bringing people together.
The impact that volunteering can have on people's lives can be significant. It can help ensure charities can support people to rebuild a safe, settled home life after homelessness by accessing the essential items they need. It can help an older person during the process of bereavement to speak to other people who know what they are going through, or to make friends if they are socially isolated. Each role in our small team makes a big difference to thousands of people’s lives every year, which could not be achieved without the amazing volunteers who give their time.
Who volunteers?
There is no specific 'type' of person who volunteers. We find that our volunteer roles attract different type of people, who each have different goals, but the majority of volunteers at Teamwork include:-
Older people and people who are retired who would like to stay active
People who want to pursue a career related to the voluntary role they are doing
People who want work experience and general work-related skills
People who want to be active in the community and make a difference
People who are isolated and want to build a social network
People with a mental or physical health condition who want to improve their wellbeing through volunteering
People who want to build confidence and self-esteem through volunteering
What age do you have to be to volunteer with Teamwork?
16 years and over.
What's the difference between work experience and volunteering?
Volunteering tends to be a time-specified or longer term commitment, on one or more days of the week, where an individual carries out a key, specific role within the team unpaid.
Work experience or internships differ in that they are usually always time-limited, and could be a full-time placement to gain the knowledge and skills needed as part of a route to a chosen career, or to fulfil the requirements of a course.
People undertaking work experience/internships, unless carried out by a student or unless the role is within a charitable organisation, should be paid at least minimum wage.
What volunteering opportunities are available at Teamwork?
There are usually three opportunities available at Teamwork:-
Men's group volunteer
Lunch club volunteer
Foundations Furniture volunteer
Men's Group Volunteers
Teams and Bensham Community Care provides a popular men's group every Monday and Thursday at our warm, welcoming centre in the Teams residential area. The men's groups run from mid morning to mid afternoon, and we are seeking a volunteer to help our attendees, aged 65 and over, to feel welcome and to participate in activities that enhance their wellbeing. Activities include:- -Making and serving cups of tea when the gentlemen arrive -Chatting to the gentlemen and helping with any activities, such as the daily quiz -Serving food at lunch time and clearing plates -Providing any help for gentlemen who need it when getting on and off our minibus when arriving or leaving the centre -General cleaning and tidying of tables after the gentlemen have left.
Lunch Club Volunteer
Teams and Bensham Community Care also provides a popular lunch club every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at our warm, welcoming centre in the Teams residential area.
Our lunch clubs run from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and we are often seeking volunteers to help our attendees, aged 65 and over, to feel welcome and to participate in activities that enhance their wellbeing. Activities include:- -Making and serving cups of tea when the lunch club attendees arrive -Chatting to people and helping with any activities such as the daily quiz, bingo etc -Serving food at lunch time and clearing plates -Providing any help for those who need it when getting on and off our minibus when arriving or leaving the centre -General cleaning and tidying of tables after the attendees have left.
Foundations Furniture Volunteer
At Foundations, we collect furniture free of charge from local households in and around Tyne and Wear, and we bring it back to our charity shop in Gateshead for families and individuals who are struggling to afford items for their homes. We are seeking volunteers that can help our friendly drivers to collect and deliver furniture and/or to help in our showrooms, warehouses. Activities include:- -Helping to load and unload the van -Moving furniture and household items to display areas -Assisting the van driver with collections and deliveries To apply for any of the opportunities at Teamwork, simply email vacancies@teamwork-dt.co.uk for an application form, or to ask any questions.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
There are so many benefits of volunteering, far too many to list in fact. The benefits generally fall into three categories: Benefits to the volunteer, benefits to the charity and benefits to the cause.
Benefits to the volunteer
Meet new people
Improved interpersonal skills and communication
Sense of purpose
Skills and experience
References for when applying for work
Improved wellbeing and confidence in a supportive environment
Improved CV
Possibility of employment within the charity you are volunteering with
Benefits to the charity
Helps the charity to reach their aims and further their cause
Helps the charity to make an impact. This impact helps charities raise funds, make connections and attract supporters and future volunteers to help continue to make a difference.
Benefits to the cause
Whatever or whoever the organisation or group aims to support, volunteering makes a significant difference in tackling issues, raising awareness and making life better.
How many roles can I volunteer for?
You can apply for as many roles as you wish. Our men’s groups are held every Monday and Thursday, whilst our lunch clubs are held on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Fridays. Foundations is open every weekday.
So, if wanted, people could apply for all three volunteer roles, and volunteer on different days of the week at different parts of the Teamwork group. Other people prefer to volunteer just one day per week, at one charity.
Can I start a volunteering role, then change to another one?
Yes! If you find you would enjoy the lunch club over the men’s group, or vice versa, or would like to try volunteering at Foundations instead, just have chat to our team at our head office to see if a switch might be right for you.
Where are the volunteering opportunities based?
Foundations is based in the Teams Craft Workshops on Askew Road West, Teams, NE8 2PB, and our lunch clubs and men’s groups are based in the communal lounge on Bolam Street, Teams, NE8 2TR.
What skills and experience do I need to have to be able to volunteer at Teamwork?
No prior skills and/or experience is necessary to volunteer at Teamwork. In fact, we look for the right people, rather than the right skills or knowledge. A caring, understanding and sociable individual is perfect for our lunch clubs and men’s groups. Someone who gets on well with others, is reliable and compassionate, and enjoys a more active role is ideal for Foundations.
How can I get the most out of volunteering?
Volunteering doesn't just have to be a selfless task. We hope that people get a lot out of volunteering personally and/or professionally. There's no shame in making the most out of volunteering, and here's our top tips for making sure you do!
Think about your goals for volunteering, and share them with us. The more we know about what you'd like to get out of volunteering, whether it be to get that dream job, or to meet new people, the better we will be in helping you to achieve this.
Get involved. We know what it's like to start something new. It can feel daunting, especially if you're shy or lack confidence (maybe this is one of your goals to overcome). But get involved and you'll soon find your feet and feel like part of the team.
Ask for feedback. If you want to know how you're doing, what skills/tasks you're excelling at, how you could improve, if you're making a difference, if we've noticed a change in you... whatever it is you'd like some feedback on, just ask.
Talk to people about any problems or challenges you're experiencing in your role.
Seek out the opportunities available to you. Is there anything else you'd like to get involved in? Is there any extra support that could help you (such as the free employability support we offer in-house)?
Ask for a written reference. This can be used to help you in a variety of future endeavours, or even just a lovely memento for you to keep and look back on when you leave your voluntary role.
Have fun! Fun means different things to different people, but enjoy the experience, whether this means a feeling of contentment, happiness, positivity or joy. Volunteering can open our eyes to life's many challenges, particularly if you're volunteering for an organisation helping in situations that are distressing, but knowing that you're making a difference in itself can be a profound experience.
What time of the day do people volunteer at Teamwork?
Foundations is open from 9am to 4pm and Teams and Bensham Community Care is open from 9am to 3pm. Most people volunteer from early/mid-morning, through to mid/late afternoon, but at Foundations, some people like to volunteer for a full day, or a half day.
How often do people volunteer at Teamwork?
Some of our volunteers at Foundations volunteer five days per week, others volunteer just one day per week. Our men's group volunteers come along to one or both days that our men's groups are held, and our lunch club volunteers come along for one, two or three days that the lunch clubs are held.
How long do people stay as a volunteer at Teamwork?
Some of our volunteers have been with us for a decade or more. Others stay just a few weeks while they improve their CV so they can apply for vacancies in their chosen careers. It is so varied, and that's what is so great about volunteering. People can make the most out of their volunteering role, for as long as they wish.
Has anyone who has volunteered gone on to get a job at Teamwork?
Yes. Many of our volunteers have successfully applied for roles that we have had available, and the opposite is true too. Many of our employees who have left us or retired have continued to volunteer with us.
Do volunteers get paid?
Volunteers do not get paid.
Can I volunteer as part of my employer's corporate volunteering days?
Yes. We always welcome any help that organisations can support us with through corporate volunteering days. This has worked really well in the past at our charities, especially Teams and Benshsam Community Care's lunch clubs and men's groups. They are particularly suitable for volunteering just for a morning, afternoon, or for a day or two, either to serve refreshments, help people to take part in activities like the daily quiz, bingo or crafts, for simply chatting to the older people who attend.
We always need help with raising awareness of our work, and fundraising too.
We love to hear ideas that organisations have about what colleagues might like to help us with too!
Can I volunteer if I have a criminal conviction?
This depends on a few factors including:-
the nature of criminal conviction, and
which volunteering opportunity you are applying for.
We have a question on our volunteer application form about this, but if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email us in confidence at vacancies@teamwork-dt.co.uk.
Looking for a voluntary role in Gateshead that makes a difference?
Visit our volunteering page and fill in the contact form, or send us an email at vacancies@teamwork-dt.co.uk. You can also call us on 0191 4900945 to chat to our team about the opportunities available, or to arrange a time to pop in and chat to us about volunteering.
If you found this blog helpful, check out some of our other articles: