Volunteering Opportunity

St. Martin’s Centre are now on a recruitment drive for more volunteers! We are recruiting volunteers who are willing to help us run our volunteer led activities and groups. We have a warm and friendly team and 25 regular volunteers. A recent external report from Ernest Dobson the Management Consultant found that volunteers were ‘extremely happy’ with their time volunteering here, with one volunteer stating that:

“I think St. Martin’s Centre is an amazing place to volunteer. The staff are outstandingly supportive towards volunteers. I personally feel more appreciated within this establishment than I have in any paid job. The centre has a wonderful positive atmosphere which is created by both the staff and volunteers. I couldn’t highly recommend the centre enough to anyone thinking about volunteering.”

Who are we?

St. Martin’s Centre are a community centre based in Byker and Walker offering services to those who live in the Byker, Walker and South Heaton area.

What volunteer roles do we offer?

We are after volunteers who are interested in experience within the following areas: Children under 5, Young People under 16 years, Older People over 55 years and gardening/administration. Volunteers will fit broadly into the following services/roles:

Child and Play Group Volunteers:

Play sessions run for about 3 hours a week including the setting up and taking down of equipment. Volunteers will be interacting with parents through conversations, helping children with arts and crafts activities, playing with children and making the playgroup warm and welcoming. Availability is at different times of the week and would be in discussion with the Volunteer Coordinator. For many local parents and families our play groups are their only opportunities to interact with others.

Youth Club Volunteers:

The Youth Club runs on a Monday evening from 4 – 5:50pm although volunteers are asked to arrive and leave half an hour earlier/later. The young people are aged between 8-12 years old and we engage with them through lantern making, arts, crafts, awareness raising activities, etc. Volunteers are encouraged to get involved and to direct tasks, plan session ideas and be involved with the group so that young people locally have an opportunity to ‘get off the streets’ and take part in structured activities. There may be potential for older age groups of young people to be supported in the future.

Older People’s Services Volunteers:

Our older people’s services are for those aged 55 years old and above and are designed to tackle the issues of loneliness and social isolation locally. Volunteers are asked to either support our monthly ‘Community Lunch’ every second Monday from 11:30am – 2:30pm or possibly or other social groups for older people in consultation with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Volunteer Gardening Assistant:

We are interested in supporting a keen and eager gardener who will work with our other volunteer gardener to help us stay on top of our family friendly garden. Volunteers will be planting, cutting grass, making sure that our garden structures are intact, general maintenance, etc. Volunteers are welcome to help at any time in consultation with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Volunteer Administrators:

We are interested in volunteers who may wish to help with our administration and particularly with advertising and marketing our services to others, making phone calls, sending emails and promoting us.

Who is eligible?

Potential volunteers must live/work within the NE6 postcode (Byker, Walker, Walkergate, South Heaton) in order to be eligible (Perhaps you know of someone even if you cannot?) and must be willing to attend a five week induction course every Tuesday morning from 10am – 12noon with one date in December and the rest in January. St. Martin’s Centre will supply the CRB check for free and a certificate as proof of the induction training will also be offered.

Where do I apply?!

Ring Drew Dalton the Volunteer Coordinator to express an interest and to discuss it further: (0191) 276 4002.

Thank you. Please spread this to others! I have attached an information flyer if you could also hand it out to people (this contains the same information as this email).

Best wishes,

Drew Dalton

Volunteer Co-ordinator

St. Martin's Centre

Roman Avenue

Byker