Get Involved Volunteer Volunteering roles Volunteering roles Could you provide a friendly face to members of the public visiting our community shop?Could you give practical support to those using pubs and clubs on a Friday and Saturday night with StreetLights?Could you welcome people to the foodbank or help sort and pack food into emergency food boxes? If the answer is yes, then we would love to hear from you! Volunteering is a worthwhile and satisfying experience. Here you will find current volunteer opportunities within DCP. Apply to Volunteer Schools Mentoring Project We are presently recruiting new volunteer mentors to support young people with one to one mentoring and small group work sessions in schools in Durham and Stanley. Please see below for more information and contact details. We are looking for volunteer mentors of any age to support young people through their mentoring project and school transitions programme. The Schools Mentoring Project links mentors with young people who need extra encouragement in developing their creativity and life skills. You will become a positive, consistent role model for a young person as you invest in their lives. Being a mentor involves meeting with a young person for an hour a week. No previous experience is required, and support and training will be given. Mentoring can be a very rewarding, satisfying and life changing experience. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or would like further information about the project, please contact Mentoring Coordinator John Ristway on the details below, or complete our Volunteer Enquiry Form. John Ristway - Mentoring Coordintor 0191 303 8623 or 07964 761 994 StreetLights StreetLights volunteers seek to be a positive presence on the streets, available to offer support to vulnerable people, de-escalate potential trouble and generally assist the police and others. All volunteers are trained in personal safety and conflict resolution. Teams are on the PubWatch radio network and are monitored by CCTV. A StreetLights volunteer, working as part of a team and in collaboration with the police and local council, seeks to be a positive influence on the streets of Durham town centre, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. The role of StreetLights is not primarily evangelistic but rather about listening to, caring for and helping people. It is about showing concern and offering assistance where appropriate in a non-judgmental and unconditional way. Expectations and CommitmentOne or more teams of three StreetLights volunteers will be out on the streets at any time. The desire and ability to work as part of a team is therefore essential. Streetlights volunteers must be 18 or over. A StreetLights volunteer would typically be out on the streets of Durham at weekends from around 10pm – 3am, and also for specific events. On average each StreetLights volunteer is expected to be out one night a month. If you feel you could make a positive contribution and are interested in this opportunity, please complete the Volunteer Enquiry Form. Durham and Sunderland Foodbanks The foodbank supplies emergency food to local people in crisis. Expectations and CommitmentThere are a variety of roles within the foodbank. Below are descriptions of some of the main areas: Distribution CentresThe volunteers meet and listen to people who come to the foodbank with a voucher to get food. They offer them a drink and a cake or biscuit and advise them of relevant agencies or sources of support, aid or advice according to their needs. The volunteers need to be able to cope with people from a variety of backgrounds, listen to them, make them feel comfortable and valuable and make appropriate recommendations. They also need to be able to make up the bags of food according to defined packing lists and record transactions on the database. Food StoreVolunteers weigh arriving food, sort it by type and date and record the information on the database. They make up emergency food boxes according to packing lists. They also make up loads to go to restock the distribution centres, weighing out the food and recording the information. Food CollectionThis may involve liaison with churches, schools or businesses. Supermarket collection days involve interacting with shoppers, encouraging them to give to the foodbank, collecting in food, thanking donors, sorting and loading the food. Project Administration, Finance, Publicity etc.There are roles in administration, fund raising, finance, PR, publicity, supporter and volunteer liaison. If you are interested in supporting us the Foodbank, please complete the Volunteer Enquiry Form, stating which location(s) you would like to work and the days and times you are available so we can match you to a suitable role. DCP Community Shop The DCP Community Shop is an established charity shop in Framwellgate Moor. It is popular with the local community selling clothing, books, toys and all manner of other household items. Profits from the shop are used to fund the work of Durham Christian Partnership. With some dedicated volunteers and staff it is presently open 5 days a week (Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 4.30pm) It serves the community in a number of ways:A source of low cost items.A route to pass on used items which still have life left in them and can be reused by others.A place where people can come for a chat and will be made to feel very welcome We are currently looking for shop volunteers to help to serve customers along with sorting the donations that are received and pricing goods - the shop is a very friendly place that gives our volunteers and customers the opportunity to feel part of a community. If you are interested in this, or any of our other opportunities, please complete the Volunteer Enquiry Form and we will be in touch! Apply to Volunteer