Residents in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, can get face-to-face help to find local volunteer roles through a series of community drop-in sessions starting in January 2026. The Gateshead Volunteer Centre, run by Connected Voice, is running these events to help people find suitable roles and to assist local charities with recruiting new helpers.
The sessions are set to take place at several locations, including Blaydon Library on 20 January 2026 and The Winlaton Centre on 2 February 2026. Other regular venues, such as Birtley Library and the Teams Life Centre, will also host the service. The drop-ins allow anyone to walk in without an appointment for a chat about getting involved in their neighbourhood.
For those who may struggle with using computers to apply for roles, Gateshead Volunteering Development Coordinator Harley Kuyck-Cohen will be available to provide one-to-one assistance. The Gateshead Volunteer Centre (Connected Voice) states the Centre’s purpose is “to improve the health and wellbeing of Gateshead residents through volunteering.”
Small community groups can also visit the sessions to get help with finding volunteers and advice on applying for funding to keep their projects going. Connected Voice publishes funding news and grant alerts to help local groups navigate rising costs and find new grants.
Gateshead Council funds the Gateshead Volunteer Centre and supported its relaunch as an independent service in April 2022, providing a local place for residents to find ways to help others. Using local libraries for these sessions helps keep those buildings active community hubs while providing essential support to the local area.
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