The end of the Summer Break is rapidly approaching – we do hope you have enjoyed your time away from university and are looking forward to seeing you again at the start of the new academic year. We are working hard to source new opportunities with new and existing organisations and we will be sharing them with you shortly.

In this Newsletter:

Volunteering Team Holidays

Volun-tees Facebook Page

Applying for Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities

Book an appointment

Volunteering Team Holidays

The September Newsletter is a little early this month as we are taking our summer holidays over the next couple of weeks ahead of the new academic year. We will endeavour to answer any questions and queries that are submitted from 23 August until 6 September 2024 on our return to campus and will respond to you from Monday 9 September 2024. Many Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding.

Volun-tees Facebook Page

We have re-instated the Volun-tees Facebook Page so it is now up and running. Please give us a like and follow the page. We will post new volunteering opportunities, organisation spotlights, student case studies and other useful information on this page.

https://www.facebook.com/VolunteesTeessideUniversity

Applying for Opportunities

Please remember to carefully consider any opportunities before applying through our Volun-tees platform. Please make sure you are able to commit to the role description, complete any relevant questions or application forms that are attached and don’t apply unless you are fully committed! This is to ensure that organisations do not get disappointed with applications that don’t progress and focus on providing support to ones that are able to commit.  We suggest you make a shortlist of the organisation and opportunities, see which roles appeal to you the most and apply for no more than 3 roles at any one time!  If you need advice, please email volunteering@tees.ac.uk

Volunteering Opportunities

Tees Valley Festivals

Middlesbrough Art Week Volunteer

Are you into Art, Design & Culture? Are you ready to be a part of an unforgettable experience? Middlesbrough Art Week will be sparking conversations again this Autumn, and we're on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to help make it happen! Middlesbrough Art Week is back for its 7th edition and takes place between 26 September – 5 October 2024 across Middlesbrough town centre. It runs for a full week of exhibitions, talks, workshops, performances, events and exciting public interventions. As a volunteer, you'll play a vital role in creating a vibrant atmosphere and ensuring that attendees have a fantastic time. Whether you're a seasoned event volunteer or new to the scene, we welcome all to be a part of our dedicated team.

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/95267

The Hope Foundation

Energy Buddy

The Hope Foundation, Middlesbrough, is looking for Energy Buddy Volunteers to help support the needs of people within our community. It will involve offering awareness and guidance around energy. The opportunity is flexible in how it is delivered. It could be from a range of activities hosted here at The Hope Foundation, events in the community or just by word of mouth in your own circle of friends and family. All training and support will be given and tailored to suit your own individual needs.

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/95268

Taste of Africa

African Afro Caribbean Parade and Market

Taste of Africa is looking for volunteers to support our African Parade on the 14 September. Volunteers are required for conducting surveys, managing the parade procession, managing costumes and as required supporting on the day. You will be provided with training where relevant and be involved in an active and vibrant event where you can gain various skills and add to your experience. It is going to be a fun festival of Costumes, parade and food.

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/95269

Teesside Hospice

Volunteer Bereavement Counsellor

We have an exciting opportunity for a suitably qualified counsellor (or about to be awarded their qualification), to a minimum of Level 5, Foundation Degree, and who is working towards their accreditation. You must have experience of working within bereavement services either as a volunteer or qualified counsellor to join our bereavement services and counselling team. The post holder will be responsible for working as part of the counselling team and will hold a caseload of bereaved individuals.

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/95270

Literacy Pirates

Literacy Support Virtual Volunteer

As a Volunteer Crewmate, your role is to join our online sessions and help children practise their reading and writing, 1:2 and in small groups. We take children on voyages as readers and writers, and we’re on the lookout for volunteers to join our Virtual Crew. We ask volunteers to give just two afternoons every half-term, although you are welcome to volunteer as frequently as you like!  Sessions run every weekday from 3:45 to 6:15 p.m. and you will have the flexibility to select which sessions you would like to attend.  No experience is required to become a volunteer – just a desire to help children develop their reading and writing skills! Full training is provided.    All we ask is that you:  are aged 16+  must be a UK resident,  complete a criminal background check (we cover the cost of this), have access to a laptop or desktop computer with a working webcam and microphone (mobile devices are unsuitable for this role). 

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/95271

Action Tutoring

Volunteer Tutor – English and/or Maths

We are looking for volunteers to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds in Maths or English, either in-person or online. We are looking for volunteers who: Have (or are studying for) a degree (in any subject) Have a B grade (or above) at A Level (or equivalent) in the subject they wish to tutor, or a similar subject   If your qualifications do not match these requirements, we still encourage you to apply. We take all previous experience into consideration and your motivations for volunteering with us, so please include anything you think might be relevant. Enthusiasm for working with children or young people and fluency in English are important.   Programmes run during term-time and sessions are held before, during or after the school day, so there's likely to be a one hour slot that fits around your academic studies and any part time work or caring you do. You can sign up at any time throughout the year. 

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/95106

Durham Sixth Form Centre

Sixth Form Mentor

Volunteer as a mentor at Durham Sixth Form Centre to help students achieve academic success. As a mentor, you'll work one-on-one or in small groups with Year 12 or 13 students, aiming to help, guide, and support them in achieving academic success in subjects related to your degree or previous A-levels. Your sessions, which can be conducted either on-site or via Google Meet, will involve various forms of support, such as testing their knowledge, assisting with essay planning, offering exam advice, helping structure revision plans, and providing guidance on post-sixth form options.

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/94901

British Computing Society

TEALS - Computing Classroom Volunteer

Volunteers will support a secondary school in Hartlepool to join Computing lessons with KS3 and KS4 pupils to support student learning, either on-line or in person. The TEALS project aims to increase the uptake of GCSE Computer Science https://www.bcs.org/deliver-and-teach-qual  We are looking for volunteers that are comfortable with basic programming and algorithm design.  We are aware that volunteers will have specialist areas such as programming, databases, data science, cyber security etc.  and these contexts can be hugely beneficial for students to have the 'hook' needed to build their self-confidence and self-efficacy.

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/95056

Alice Ruggles Trust

Stalker Educator

Stalking is a horrific crime affecting 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men. We want your help raising awareness of stalking amongst school students and to try and prevent it from happening. If you consider yourself to be an outgoing and engaging person, this is a great opportunity to be a part of a team committed to children and young people’s safeguarding.  You will lead our impactful assembly and talk to students about acceptable and unacceptable behaviours, how it is ok to be uncomfortable about someone's behaviour and helping them to have the confidence to come forward and ask for help.   

https://voluntees.co.uk/opportunity/95108

Please note, Angela will not be available for appointments until week beginning 9 September 2024, however Drop-in’s will take place on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 12.30 – 1.30 pm in the  new Student Futures Lounge (formerly Creator Lab) with members of the Student Futures Team – no appointment is necessary.

Best Wishes

Jayne and Ange