Volunteer Durham

21/07/2026

Volunteers Needed – Sportsability at Teesdale Leisure Centre

Could you spare some time on a Friday morning to support an inclusive activity session in Barnard Castle?

Sportsability is attended by around 25 adults with learning and/or physical disabilities. Volunteers help participants take part in a range of fun and inclusive physical activities.

This opportunity could be ideal for someone with an interest in sport, physical activity, health and wellbeing, or simply a desire to make a positive difference in their community.

Interested in finding out more?
Please contact us via [email protected]

Your support can help create a welcoming, active and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

20/07/2026

🎺 Durham BRASS 2026 was in full swing! 🎺

It has been fantastic to see the festival bringing so much music, energy and excitement to Durham.

A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers for giving their time, enthusiasm and support to help make the event such a success. We really appreciate everything you do!

Here are a few photos our volunteers have shared with us so far. 📸✨

10/07/2026

We’re pleased to support and share these new volunteering opportunities with The Light. Find out more at their information session on 22 July at The Story ✨

We're excited to launch our upcoming volunteering opportunities at The Light and are now recruiting volunteers for the following roles:

✨ Gallery Engager
✨ Events and Activities Volunteer

Interested in finding out more? Join us for a volunteering information session on 22 July, 10am–12pm at The Story.

📧 Booking is essential. To reserve your place or ask any questions, please email [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming our volunteers!

06/07/2026

Could you make a difference with just 3 hours a week?

We’re pleased to share this volunteering opportunity from Marie Curie’s Companions at Home Service – Durham.

Marie Curie is looking for caring, compassionate volunteers to join their Community Companion Team, supporting people in the final stages of life and those close to them.

As a Companion Volunteer, you could spend time visiting someone at home, offering a friendly chat, a listening ear, peaceful company, and giving carers or family members a short break when they need it most.

Full training and ongoing support are provided, and the role is flexible and rewarding.

Volunteers need to be 18 or over and able to offer around 3 hours per week.

Interested or want to know more? Please contact Marie Curie direct:

Louise Delaney, Volunteer Services Officer
📞 07515 135571
✉️ [email protected]

12/06/2026

We’re delighted to share some fantastic news from one of our swim volunteers at Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre.

Around six months ago, Bilge began volunteering alongside the swim teachers, supporting children during their lessons. From her very first day, she loved the atmosphere, and seeing children grow in confidence in the water quickly became the highlight of her week.

Through her commitment, enthusiasm and the hands-on experience she gained while volunteering, Volunteer Durham funded and supported Bilge to complete her Level 2 Teaching Swimming qualification and we are delighted to share that she has now successfully passed.

Bilge told us:
“Volunteering didn’t just allow me to give back to the community; it opened doors to a brand-new career that I am truly passionate about.”

Bilge is continuing to volunteer at the leisure centre and is looking forward to applying for swim teaching roles once her certificate arrives.

A huge well done, Bilge, and thank you for sharing such an inspiring story. This is a wonderful example of how volunteering can build confidence, develop skills, support communities and create new opportunities.

10/06/2026

🎉 Volunteer Week Prize Draw Winners 🎉

Thank you to everyone who shared their volunteering stories, experiences and photos with us as part of National Volunteer Week.

We have really enjoyed reading your stories and hearing about the many ways volunteering makes a difference across County Durham.
We are pleased to announce that the winners of our Volunteer Week prize draw are:

👏 Carol Kelly
👏 Duncan Porter

Both winners will receive a £50 Amazon voucher and will be contacted directly by email with details of their voucher.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, and to all of our amazing volunteers for the time, kindness and commitment you give throughout the year.

07/06/2026

As Volunteers’ Week comes to a close, we want to say one final huge thank you to all of our volunteers.

Across Culture, Sport and Tourism, volunteers give their time in so many different ways, supporting events, exhibitions, libraries, leisure, wellbeing activities, sport and community projects.

This week has been a chance to celebrate just a small number of the stories, memories and contributions that make volunteering so special.

To every volunteer: thank you for your time, kindness, commitment and enthusiasm. You are truly appreciated.

Our Volunteer Week prize draw winners will be selected on Wednesday 10 June and announced shortly afterwards.

06/06/2026

Today for Volunteers’ Week, we’re sharing Duncan and Clare’s story about volunteering with the Library Books on Wheels Service.

Duncan and Clare have been volunteering for the past 16 months and said they have enjoyed it so much that they now support three routes from different libraries every month.

They shared that Books on Wheels is “an essential and important service”, helping people who find it difficult to visit their local library access books, audiobooks and other resources from home.

For Duncan and Clare, the role has become about much more than delivering books. They said they have come to know the people they visit very well, sharing family news, life stories and monthly catch-ups along the way.

They added that it is “a pleasure and a privilege” to listen to some of their customers talk about their memories and life history, and they hope they also provide a little companionship and friendship.

Thank you, Duncan and Clare, for the kindness, care and commitment you bring to this wonderful service.

05/06/2026

Today’s Volunteers’ Week story comes from Jen, one of our long-standing volunteers, who has supported us for a number of years across many different events.

Most recently, Jen supported the Memory of a Journey exhibition at Durham Town Hall. She shared how lovely it was to see people’s excitement when they came to view the thousands of peg dolls on display, each one inspired by favourite journeys from adults and children across County Durham and the Tees Valley.

The exhibition brought people together through creativity, memories and shared stories and volunteers helped make visitors feel welcome throughout the day.

Thank you, Jen, for your continued support over the years, and thank you to everyone who has supported this special exhibition.

04/06/2026

For Volunteers’ Week, The Walk Leaders and Wellbeing volunteers joined us and the Wellbeing team yesterday in Seaham for a walk, fresh air and fish & chips by the seaside a lovely way to celebrate together and a reminder of the role volunteering can play in supporting wellbeing, confidence and connection.

The weather held off just in time, and everyone was able to sit down and enjoy some well-earned fish and chips together after a lovely walk along the seafront.

The Walk Leaders and Wellbeing volunteers help create welcoming opportunities for people to get active, meet others and enjoy the outdoors at their own pace.

Thank you to everyone who gives their time to support others through movement, encouragement and kindness.

Move County Durham