Introducing the Volunteer Passport

Volunteering is one of the best ways to give back, meet new people and pick up skills along the way. Now, thanks to our Volunteer Passport Portal finding the right role has never been easier.

The portal is a one-stop place where you can create your own volunteer profile, keep track of hours and training and even earn digital badges that celebrate your achievements. For local organisations, it makes things simpler too, helping with recruitment, onboarding and ongoing support.

What’s on offer

Education and learning

  • Northern Learning Trust roles: From supporting community gardening to boosting literacy and digital skills, there are plenty of ways to help people grow and thrive.

Community engagement

  • Action Team: Perfect if you prefer flexibility—you can dip in and out of short-term roles like event support and local projects.
  • Healthwatch Volunteers: Gather stories and feedback from people in your community to help improve health and social care.
  • Gardening Volunteer – Assist the Community Engagement Tutor with planning, planting and maintaining the Learning Hive garden

Advocacy and wellbeing

 

Why get involved?

The Volunteer Passport is more than just a logbook, it’s a way to:

  • Show off your skills and experience.

  • Try different kinds of roles, depending on your time and interests.

  • Build confidence, connections and even career pathways.

For organisations, it’s a chance to cut down on admin and focus on what really matters – making a difference.

Ready to join in?

Whether you’ve got an afternoon to spare, or you’re looking for something longer term, the Volunteer Passport Portal makes it simple to get started. Every role helps build a stronger, more connected Northumberland and you might just find something that changes your life too.

👉 Explore the portal today and see where volunteering could take you

Simplify your volunteer management

If your organisation depends on volunteers, our Volunteer Passport offers a streamlined, all-in-one solution for managing roles, applications and communication.

We’re providing FREE access to Assemble – an intuitive platform designed to help you:

  • Streamline recruitment and onboarding – eliminate the hassle of chasing references and DBS checks

  • Engage and motivate volunteers – track contributions and celebrate achievements

  • Showcase volunteer impact – provide a portable, verified record of each volunteer’s experience

  • Save time and resources – perfect for small teams delivering big results

  • Boost retention and reduce burnout – for both staff and volunteers

Our team will get you started by adding your organisation and initial roles to the system, with ongoing administrative support available whenever you need it.

Ready to learn more?
Complete our short form, and we’ll send you an invitation to a demo session explaining how the Volunteer Passport works and the simple steps to get started.

Contact us
Kay – kayhk@thrivingtogethernorthumberland.org.uk
EmmaJane – emmajanemcguire@thrivingtogethernorthumberland.org.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

Spotlight on Healthwatch Northumberland

 

Healthwatch Northumberland is the local champion for health and social care in the county, dedicated to ensuring that people’s experiences and views of NHS and social care services are heard and acted upon. By gathering feedback from residents and feeding it back to providers and decision-makers, Healthwatch Northumberland helps shape services that truly meet the needs of the community.

We asked Healthwatch Northumberland about how important volunteers are to their organisation and what the Volunteer Passport means to them in terms of supporting and organising their volunteer team.

How do volunteers support your work?

Volunteers are at the heart of this work. They listen to people’s experiences of health and care services, gather insights directly from the community and signpost individuals to relevant support networks. Many volunteers are involved in conducting public surveys, engaging with communities, and participating in “Enter and View” visits, where they observe and report on the quality of care in settings such as hospitals and care homes. Volunteers also support research, report writing, communications, digital tasks, administration and giving presentations to local groups, providing invaluable behind-the-scenes support that keeps the organisation running smoothly.

What volunteering opportunities do you currently have available?

Healthwatch Northumberland offers a wide range of flexible volunteering opportunities, suitable for those who want to get involved on a regular basis or on a one-off basis, and some roles can even be done from home. 

Opportunities include:

  • Enter & View volunteering – visiting and observing care providers like hospitals, care homes, dentists as part of official visits.
  • Community Engagement roles – listening to community experiences, distributing information, conducting surveys, signposting and mystery shopping. 
  • Behind-the-scenes support – assisting with research, report writing, communications, digital tasks, administration, data handling, proofreading, and giving presentations to local groups.

What difference do volunteers make?

Volunteers make a significant difference in the community. They ensure that real voices and experiences are brought to the forefront, helping services better reflect the needs of residents. Their outreach work connects with people in rural and underserved areas, extending the organisation’s reach. Volunteers also make Healthwatch Northumberland’s efforts more impactful, enabling the collection of widespread, grassroots-level feedback that would be difficult to gather otherwise. The insights they provide during visits and community engagement directly influence improvements in the quality and delivery of care services across the county.

Interested in volunteering?

For anyone interested in getting involved, Healthwatch Northumberland offers an accessible and supportive pathway into volunteering. Getting involved is easy and flexible:

  • You can fill out a volunteer registration form (online) and attend an informal chat to discuss your interests and fit.
  • Roles typically require a DBS check (basic or enhanced depending on the role), with costs covered by the organisation.
  • Training and support are included, and expenses such as travel are reimbursed.
  • To get started, email Lorna Beech (Lornab@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk) or call 03332 408 468. 

I feel valued as a volunteer with Healthwatch Northumberland, with lots of support and encouragement from staff and other volunteers….It’s rewarding to be able to signpost people to relevant services that can help with life’s challenges – Stella, Volunteer

I chose to volunteer with Healthwatch Northumberland to help make a positive difference to people’s lives whilst building my own confidence and people skills to support my future career – Matthew, young volunteer 

Join our Action Team

Looking for a flexible and meaningful way to give back to your community? Then why not join our Action Team

Whether you’d like to help at events, contribute from home, or get involved locally, there’s a place for you.

The best part? There’s no pressure – just opportunities. You’ll receive regular updates about upcoming events and activities, and you can decide when and how you want to take part. It’s volunteering on your terms.

Why we want you

Throughout the year, there are countless exciting ways to get involved. From cheering on runners and supporting street collections, to sharing information or helping behind the scenes, you’ll be playing a valuable role in helping your community thrive.

What you’ll be doing

Depending on your interests, you might choose to get involved in:

  • Community Events: Help with setup, registration, or clean-up
  • Fundraising: Support campaigns or events that raise vital funds
  • Tutoring: Assist students with their learning and confidence
  • Litter Picking: Help keep community spaces clean and welcoming

The skills you’ll bring

You don’t need any special qualifications to join. If you have a team-player mindset, good time management, and clear, confident communication, then that’s all that’s required to make a valuable contribution.

What you’ll get in return

When you join the Action Team, you will receive briefings and training tailored to your role, along with access to a personal volunteer profile and portal on our Assemble platform.

You’ll be supported and recognised by our dedicated volunteering team and will enjoy first access to new opportunities as they arise. If you wish, you can also grow into more fixed or specialised roles over time. Above all, it’s a fun and rewarding experience that fits around your schedule.

Your Safety Matters

We’re committed to creating a safe environment for all our volunteers and learners. That’s why we carefully select, check, and support all volunteers as part of our safeguarding commitment.

Ready to Take Action?

Be part of something meaningful. Empower your community, support those who need it, and join a network of people making a difference.

The Action Team is built around choice and flexibility

When something comes up that fits your interests or availability, you simply opt in - there’s no need to reapply each time

Join our Action Team now!

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the North East Combined Authority as the Lead Authority.

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