Volunteer Vacancies
Individual Volunteering Opportunities
If you are interested in any of the vacancies below or would like further information please contact us. We also receive information about one-off opportunities and these are posted on our Facebook pages. Join us on Facebook to keep up to date.
Experience Durham Staff-Student Mentoring
This is an opportunity to mentor individuals involved in student-led organisations within the University.
Students holding key posts within these organisations will be considered for mentoring and may include; society presidents, society communication officers and Vice-Chancellor’s scholars. Where possible, mentors will have the relevant professional expertise, and all will have a genuine interest in the students’ area of activity.
Whilst the scheme will be relatively informal, it will provide professional support relevant to the extra-curricular work undertaken by the students. The aim is to promote efficiency and excellence within student-led organisations through mentoring students who carry out high-level roles within the organisations.
Staff mentors will not replace nor replicate the role of College Mentors or Academic Advisors. Experience Durham staff mentors will act to provide support to students focused around their roles in Sports, Music, the Arts, Volunteering and Outreach.
When: Flexible
Where: Durham and Stockton
If you interested in this scheme please email community.engagement@durham.ac.uk
School Governors
Ever pondered what is really involved with being a school governor? Thought about getting involved but just don’t know how to go about it and who to contact? If you are interested in finding out more please do email us and let us know, including the general area you are looking to be a governor.
We will then contact you with all the information you need and put you in contact with schools looking for governors in your local area.
Below are opportunities to volunteer within the community out of work time. They are not part of the staff volunteering scheme so after the initial contact communication would be through individual charities. To find out more about any of the below opportunities please email community.engagement@durham.ac.uk initially.
Volunteer at the Lumiere Festival
Lumiere needs people to join its Festival Makers when it returns to Durham this winter. To find out more about volunteering join up for this drop in session. We need people just like you to join our team of Festival Makers. We are looking for people of all ages to join us and there are lots of ways you can get involved and get behind the scenes of the festival.
Contact festivalmakers@artichoke.uk.com for more information about this event.
The Woodcraft Folk
The Woodcraft Folk is an educational movement for children and young people. It is designed to help develop their self confidence and activity in society, with the aim of helping to build a world based on equality, friendship, peace and co-operation. Our activities include arts and crafts, nature walks and cooperative games.
We would like volunteers to help with the group night by helping to set the room up and pack away, doing activities, running the games and taking the subs. All volunteers will be fully supported.
When: Thursday evenings from 6.15pm-7.45pm
Where: Framwellgate Youth and Community Centre, Front St, Framwellgate Moor, Durham, DH1 5BD
To look at the website click here
Energy Club
This is a fun, free physical activity club for kids aged 4-11, delivered by volunteers at Primary Schools across England. Energy Clubs will provide training for all volunteers and volunteering at an Energy Club is an opportunity for you to join a group of like-minded people helping children lead healthier, happier lives in your community.
When: Half an hour every fortnight during term time
Where: Primary Schools across County Durham
Volunteer at The Cabin
The Cabin is a free, confidential and independent advice service for under 25’s. They offer advice and training to young people for housing, debt, consumer rights, employment and benefits and are looking for the following volunteers;
Volunteer Adviser- to provide information and advice to young people using The Cabins vast resources.
Social Policy Advisor-The purpose is to bring attention to the issues affecting people in Stockton-on-Tees and Tees Valley, though researching Social Policy Issues, writing articles and updating relevant media. Particularly interested in staff and students in Economics, Sociology, Social Policy, Politics, Marketing, Media, Industrial Relations or Law.
When: Variable
Where: Stockton-on-Tees
Durham City Scouts
Durham City District Scouts runs eight scout groups and three Explorer Scout units. Scouting in Durham has a dedicated team of volunteers who help run the programme and groups in Framwellgate Moor, Belmont, Waterhouses, Neville’s Cross, Old Elvet, Brandon, Coxhoe and Gilesgate. If you would like to join them, current vacancies include:
Assistant Beaver Leaders -Working as part of a small team with boys and girls aged 6-8 yrs
Assistant Cub Leader -Working as part of a small team with boys and girls aged 8-10 yrs
Assistant Scout Leaders- Working as part of a small team with boys and girls aged 10-14 yrs
When: Generally one evening a week - night depends on section and location
Where: Durham City
About: Scout Leaders are supported by a well developed in house training scheme. Most expenses are met by the organisation. Previous Scouting knowledge is not required but an interest in working with and developing Children is essential.
Volunteer Gardeners Wanted
Trimdon Community Garden are always pleased to welcome volunteer gardeners. They grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, and practice all forms of propagation at their greenhouse on site. Produce is used in fetes or shared amongst the gardeners.
When: Wednesday and Saturday's from 1:30 - 3:30pm
Where: Trimdon Community Garden
Durham Amateur Football Trust (DAFT)
The Durham Amateur Football Trust (DAFT) was founded in 2006 to record and promote the sporting and social history of Amateur Football in County Durham. Over the past 6 years the organisation has grown from strength-to-strength and today a part-time outreach officer works for the organisation delivering workshops to young people and schools. During this period, DAFT have also collected a large number of materials for their archives, including a very large collection of the 'Sporting Pinks', a newspaper published on a Saturday afternoon detailing all the football scores.
DAFT are seeking volunteers to help with the digitisation of the 'Pinks' and of other scrapbooks and memorabilia photographs that have been collected and donated. Full training will be given. DAFT are also seeking voluntees to assist them with researching the social history of several trophies known as the 'Nursing Cups', through which funds were raised for pre-NHS health services. More information about DAFT can be found on their website.
When: Times and days are flexible
Where: Researching can be done on a 'virtual' basis but digitisation work needs to be done at the DAFT offices, currently located at Shildon Locomotion Museum
