Volunteer Why volunteer Volunteers' Week It's National Volunteers' Month when we celebrate the power of volunteering and thank volunteers for the fantastic contributions they make. It is also a great opportunity for us to highlight the benefits of becoming a volunteer and the range of volunteering roles that are available at Gateshead Carers. Throughout June we will be celebrating by showcasing a mix of stories, blogs, podcasts, feedback, and more from volunteers and carers where you can find out about our different volunteering opportunities and how our volunteers help to make a difference to carers in Gateshead. Join our team of volunteers as a... Volunteer Befriender We offer a befriending service for both unpaid carers and the person they care for to access. Our Befrienders give them a chance to enjoy a short break from their usual routine and have a friendly chat. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we developed the service to be exclusively available over the telephone. Listen to what volunteer Befriender Irene had to say about becoming a Befriender on our podcast, Care to Chat? Read the journey of being a Befriender by one of our Volunteers. Become a Befriender! Community Connector As the number of unpaid carers increases, we need the help of volunteers to raise awareness of our services throughout Gateshead. Community Connectors extend our reach to the many different communities in Gateshead and give us brilliant local opportunities for us to share with our carers as well as helping us to spread the word. Come and connect with your community! Allotment Assistant The Covid-19 restrictions meant we could not access our community allotment in Bensham. However, in such a short amount of time and with the support of the Best of Bensham Collaborative, volunteers were able to transform the space back from its overgrown state into a peaceful place full of opportunities for growth - literally! Get involved as an Allotment Assistant! Virtual Carer Café Facilitator - starting soon! We're almost ready to share a virtual cuppa with carers and would love your help! In this role, we're looking for volunteers who would like to be a host for our online carer cafes and chat with carers over Zoom. I want to do that!