Volunteering
Become a volunteer with Vision Northumberland
There are lots of ways to volunteer with Vision Northumberland. It’s a great way of meeting new people and learning new skills. By volunteering with us you can make a real difference to people in your area who are living with a sensory loss.
Benefits of volunteering:
- Make a life-changing difference to someone in your community.
- Increase the independence, dignity and wellbeing of people living with sensory loss.
- Gain skills and experience whilst doing an activity that you enjoy.
- Meet new people within your community.
- You will receive ongoing training and support.
Vision Northumberland will reimburse all out-of-pocket expenses such as mileage, phone calls and parking fees.
Please note: The minimum age for all roles is 18 years. All volunteers are required to undertake an enhanced DBS; costs will be met by Vision Northumberland.
Take a look at the opportunities currently available and find out more about different volunteering roles.
You can download the full role description by clicking on the buttons in the panels below.
Activity Volunteers
As an Activity Volunteer you will support and guide someone with sight loss to get out and about in their local community; enabling them to participate in a range of activities whilst building self-confidence, increasing social interaction, and promoting independence.
Skills/Experience:
- Willingness to help someone within the sensory impaired community.
- Being patient, empathetic, warm and friendly.
- Having good verbal communication skills.
- Enjoying meeting new people.
- Being physically fit enough to guide a person.
- Able to work in compliance with Vision Northumberland’s policies and procedures.
- Willingness to undertake any training as reasonably requested.
Volunteer Drivers
Volunteer drivers provide transport and one-to-one guidance/assistance to sensory impaired people. This may involve transporting people from their homes to clubs and support groups, hospital appointments or Vision Northumberland events.
Skills/Experience:
- Willingness to help someone within the sensory impaired community.
- Clean driving licence with over 3 years’ experience, access to vehicle and valid car insurance.
- Ability to work on own initiative and without close supervision.
- Being patient, empathetic, warm and friendly.
- Having good verbal communication skills.
- Enjoying meeting new people.
- Able to work in compliance with Vision Northumberland’s policies and procedures.
- Willingness to undertake any training as reasonably requested.
Telephone Befriender
As a telephone befriender for our Client Connect service you would support our vulnerable and isolated clients by providing social contact via friendly calls. Contact can be regular or occasional.
Skills/Experience:
- Willingness to help someone within the sensory impaired community.
- Access to a working telephone.
- Being patient, empathetic, warm and friendly.
- Enjoying meeting new people.
- Able to work in compliance with Vision Northumberland’s policies and procedures.
- Willingness to undertake any training as reasonably requested.
If you are interested in any of the roles listed or would like to offer help in any other way, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator on 01670 514316 or email info@vision-northumberland.org