Are you aged between 13 and 17 and looking for a way to get involved in your community? Volunteering is a great way to meet people, develop new skills, and make a real difference. At NCVA, we believe young people have the passion and ability to lead positive change in their local area.
Whether you want to support a cause you care about, gain experience for your future, or simply try something new, we’re here to help you take the first step.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering can:
- Help you develop confidence and communication skills
- Improve your CV or college/university applications
- Give you experience for school, college or future work
- Allow you to give back to your community
- Be fun, rewarding and a great way to meet others
What Kind of Things Can I Do?
Young volunteers get involved in all kinds of roles! Some ideas include:
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- Helping out at events or open days
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- Assisting with social media and digital projects
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- Supporting environmental campaigns or sustainability work
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- Designing posters or taking photos
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- Joining youth-led projects that tackle local issues
We aim to match you with activities that fit your interests, strengths and goals.
How Much Time Do I Need?
There are no fixed hours for volunteering, but we recommend:
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- Ages 13–15: 2–3 hours at a time, a few hours a week
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- Ages 16–17: Up to 5 hours, depending on your availability
We understand school, homework and family responsibilities come first. Let us know what works for you.
What Support Will I Get?
Volunteering might be your first experience in a formal role, so we’ll make sure you feel supported. You’ll receive:
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- An induction so you know what to expect
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- Ongoing help from a named adult you can go to with questions
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- A clear role and boundaries
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- Help understanding your rights and responsibilities
You’ll never be asked to do anything unsafe, and you won’t be left alone to deal with tricky situations.
Do I Need Permission?
Yes. You’ll need to:
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- Sign a volunteer agreement, which outlines what you’ll be doing
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- Have written permission from your parent or carer
If you’re under 16, this is especially important. You might also be asked for extra consent for things like photos or overnight trips.
What If I’m Worried About Something?
Your safety and wellbeing are a top priority. You’ll be told who you can speak to if you’re ever uncomfortable or unsure. Whether it’s something you’ve seen or how you feel, don’t keep it to yourself — we’re here to help.
Ready to Start?
Speak to your school, a youth worker, or contact us at NCVA. We can help you find the right opportunity and walk you through what happens next. You can also look at current Volunteering opportunities using VC Connect
Volunteering can change your life — and someone else’s too. Get involved today!
NCVA uses the volunteer matching system developed and run by Simply Connect to match potential volunteers to volunteering opportunities.
- Simply Connect lets you choose the kind of volunteering you would like to do from a series of pick lists and check boxes.
- You can then specify the places you would like to volunteer and how far you are prepared to travel.
- It then searches its database to make a list of volunteering opportunities.
But what if there are no opportunities?
It’s true—there may be times when a search on Simply Connect (VC Connect) doesn’t return any suitable results. Volunteering opportunities depend on what local organisations are currently offering, and in a large, rural county like Northumberland, opportunities may be limited in certain areas or for specific interests.
There are so many fantastic youth charities and organisations across Northumberland who provide opportunities for young people to volunteer and develop. They often have their own processes in place and, depending on where you live and what your interests are, we can signpost you or link you to them through some of the networks and extensive contacts we have.
Don’t be discouraged!
New roles are added regularly, and needs in the community are always changing. If nothing comes up today, that doesn’t mean there won’t be something perfect for you tomorrow. You can:
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Register your interest with us or on the Simply Connect platform so we can notify you when something suitable appears.
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Consider a wider range of roles—sometimes stepping outside your usual preferences can lead to surprisingly rewarding experiences.
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Speak to our team—we can help connect you with organisations who may not yet have posted a role online but are open to support.