We made it to April! The dark mornings and nights are now behind us, and we can hopefully look forward to some warmer weather. You may have already started making plans for Spring Break, we do hope that whatever you are doing, you manage to take some time out to relax. In our monthly newsletter, we will look at some highlights from the previous month. We would love to draw your attention to the new volunteering opportunities we have on offer and the support we can provide you with.
In this Newsletter:
- Volun-cheers Awards 2025 – Nominations are open!
- Do Good, Feel Good
- Case Studies and Spotlights
- Volunteering Opportunities
- Volunteering Support
Volun-cheers Awards 2025
We are delighted to announce the date of our Volun-cheers awards. These will take place on the 8th May 2025. All students who have qualified for an award will be notified and invited to attend. Before the awards, we need your help! Nominations are open. This form has been circulated to all organisations, and we are delighted with the response. The difference our volunteers are making in the community is huge. Now it is your turn, you can also nominate. Would you like to see a mentor recognised for the help they have provided or perhaps you would like to nominate your chosen organisation for the “Organisation of the Year” award. Please click here to access the form. If you have any questions or need some help, email volunteering@tees.ac.uk.
Do Good, Feel Good
On the 11th March, we had our Do Good, Feel Good clothing sale. A big thank you to the students who volunteered their time to run this event. You brought lots of energy, fun and made everyone feel welcome. We raised £180 which we split between two local charities. The donations have been passed to My Sisters Place, a domestic abuse charity and MAIN who support people with Autism. Both charities were extremely grateful with the monetary donation and expressed their heartfelt thanks.
On the 13th March we had our Do Good, Feel Good Easter Egg-stravanganza! A lovely relaxing crafting event where students and staff came together to make some very creative chicks and bunting. Each chick had a little chocolate placed inside. These were then donated to Young at Heart, a charity that helps people with Dementia, at one of their weekly events.
Would you like to join us for the next Do Good, Feel Good event? On the 24th April we are teaming up with Middlesbrough Council for a community litter pick to help ‘Keep Boro Tidy’. A great way to come together and give something back to the community. Please click the link below to find out more, we do hope you can join us.
Do Good, Feel Good, Keep Boro Tidy Community Litter Pick By Volun-tees
Case Studies and Organisation Spotlights
Case Studies
Every month we like to shine a light on our volunteers and find out more about their volunteering journey. We love to read about success stories and both Ellie Pearson and Jesicca Tate have certainly made an outstanding contribution, we are incredibly proud of what they have achieved.
Please click on the links below to read more.
Organisation Spotlights
Every organisation we work with has shown a commitment to the volun-tees platform and helping to create some amazing volunteering opportunities for our students. Just like the student case studies, we would like to showcase a couple of organisations. Please click on the articles to find out more about Boro Angels and North York Moors National Park
Volunteering Opportunities
We are delighted to share with you some new volunteering opportunities.
Little Flowers Baby & Toddler Group
Early years play and learning for 0-3 years. We provide a space where children and adults meet to socialise, learn, play and have fun. Intergenerational Social Activities reduce isolation and enhance mental and physical wellbeing.
Volunteer - Little Flowers Baby & Toddler Group
Woods & Waves Forest and Beach School CIC
To create a future generation who have a strong connection to nature and respect and care for the natural environment, who are resilient, curious, and confident learners.
Volunteer Forest and Beach School Assistant By WOODS & WAVES FOREST AND BEACH SCHOOL CIC
LGBQT+ Teesside University
Teesside University Proud and our LGBTQ+ Focus Group signify our commitment to celebrating and supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues, students, and allies, and our desire to create an inclusive environment where everyone can be their genuine self.
Intersectional Pride Volunteer By LGBTQ+ Focus Group (Teesside University)
Access and Participation Teesside University
Access and Participation activities help tackle inequalities not only in access to Higher Education but also in continuation, completion, attainment and progress. It can change lives.
WHISH
Participating in WHISH activities enhances the health and well-being of the young people, and improves confidence and self-esteem, giving children with disabilities and impairments an opportunity to do things like their peers, to access activities most children can take for granted, making friends, learning and having fun together.
Social Media / Communications Coordinator By WHISH - Whitby Hidden Impairments Support & Help
Youth group volunteer - WHISH Saturday Club By WHISH - Whitby Hidden Impairments Support & Help
Teesside Hospice
We're bringing people together, from patients, family and friends to our clinical team, counsellors, staff, volunteers and our fundraisers. We make sure that everyone gets to live well until the very end. We were founded by local people and will always be here for local people. We understand their lives, the community and culture so we are incredibly well placed to offer highly personalised levels of care.
Volunteer Finance Assistant By Teesside Hospice
Supporter Care Administration Volunteer By Teesside Hospice
Solidarity Sports (London)
We are a charity that harnesses the transformative power of play and exercise to help vulnerable children recover from complex trauma. Our goal is to nurture the confidence of every child we work with and develop valuable life skills to help them reach their full potential.
Easter Holiday Project Volunteer By Solidarity Sports LONDON BASED
CRUK
Cancer is relentless. But so are we. Whether you fundraise, pledge to leave a gift in your will or donate. Every part supports life-saving research. Play your part and together we will beat cancer.
Cancer Research Race for Life and Pretty Muddy Event Volunteering By CRUK (Cancer Research UK)
Darlington Association on Disability
Darlington Association on Disability is an organisation led by disabled people, which exists to promote independence and choice. DAD supports disabled people and carers through the provision of services, support and information and by tackling issues affecting disabled people both locally and nationally.
Volunteer Play worker By Darlington Association on Disability
St Hilda’s Church
To support and run our parent and toddler group, with the help of existing volunteers and with parents active participation. To bring some structure and early years expertise to the group, to aid in the children's development, help build routines and get school ready.
ST HILDA'S CHURCH BABY BANK AND PARENTS & TODDLERS
Durham Sixth Form College
Our mission is to empower volunteers to make a meaningful impact on the educational journey of Year 12 and Year 13 students at Durham Sixth Form Centre.
Mentoring at Durham Sixth Form Centre By Durham Sixth Form Centre
North York Moors
Our vision is that everyone should be confident to visit and enjoy our National Parks. This means that everyone can receive the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in National Parks and has the knowledge to help protect them.
Community Champion Programme - Championing National Parks for All By North York Moors National Park
Lilyannes Wellbeing
Our mission is to engage, empower, and support these individuals, while also protecting them from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
Coffee Shop Team Member By Lilyannes Wellbeing (Hartlepool)
Volunteering Support
We are getting out and about on campus running Volunteering Roadshows. This is a great opportunity for you to pop along and say hello. We can help you with; searching for opportunities, creating a profile, adding hours and discussing ways in which we can support you. The link above shows the dates and locations, we do hope you come along.
To make sure we reach everyone, we are hosting sessions online. The next ‘Volun-tees Find Your Future Presentation’ is on Wednesday 2nd April at 10am. Click here to book a place. It is all about searching for opportunities.
If you have any questions regarding volunteering, please email volunteering@tees.ac.uk.
Look out for us...
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, best wishes
Jayne, Kate and Lindsey
The Volunteering Team
Related Opportunities
By volunteering just a few hours each week you can transform the lives of young children and their parents in your community.
Act as an Appropriate Adult for people with mental health needs and/or learning disabilities and other vulnerabilities who are being detained in custody, ensuring fair treatment in accordance with PACE guidelines / legislation 1984.
