Introducing the Volunteer Passport
Flexible volunteering for everyone across Northumberland
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 Northumberland Volunteer Passport is a digital hub launched in last year to simplify volunteering. It allows users to track hours, gain training and earn digital badges that build a verified portfolio of skills. By streamlining recruitment and onboarding, this tool helps local organisations manage teams whilst also enabling residents to find impactful, flexible opportunities to support the community.
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.
The Northumberland Parent Carer Forum (NPCF) is a Department of Education recognised, non-profit community interest company run by and for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0 to 25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in Northumberland
Citizens Advice Northumberland is an independent local charity that provides free, confidential and unbiased advice to people living across Northumberland.
Northern Butterflies is a creative charity in Cramlington that supports adults with learning disabilities or mental health issues through art and well being programmes.
The Northern Learning Trust Learning Hives are on-site community education and training centres to help people build skills, find jobs and gain confidence.
The Living Barracks is a partnership involving The Maltings to transform the historic Berwick Barracks into a vibrant cultural hub in Berwick upon Tweed.
Best Start Family Hubs are free, one-stop local centres throughout Northumberland that bring health, education and family support services together under one roof.
Adapt (North East) is a community charity and social enterprise based in Hexham that works to support people with disabilities and those affected by rural isolation.
The Northumberland County Council Sports Development Service is a community-focused sports and physical activity service aiming to create opportunities in Northumberland
Located in the historic market town of Morpeth, Children North East hosts two floors of quality second-hand clothing, homeware, books, toys and more.
Action Team Opportunities!
- Theatre Event Steward – Salt & Smoke: Stories of Blyth – various dates from 18 Sept onwards
- Beatrice Community Garden Project (One off Event) – w/c 28 September 2026
- Cramlington Foodbank – Delivery driver required – flexible dates
- Blyth Fireworks Community Litter Pick – 1st November 2026
Need more flexibility?
No problem. You can apply for the Action Team – our flexible volunteer network.
If you want to make a difference in Northumberland but need complete flexibility, the Action Team is for you.
You aren’t committing to a set schedule; instead, you’re joining a community of “on-call” volunteers.
Here is what you get:
- Free training: Instant access to a library of courses and qualifications to boost your CV.
- Priority alerts: Be the first to know about pop-up events and short-term projects.
- Direct invites: Approved local charities can see your preferences and send you direct, secure invites for one-off events.
- Zero pressure: You are in complete control. Grab opportunities that fit your calendar and just pass on the ones that don’t
How to join:
Click this link to complete your “Volunteer Passport” on our secure Assemble platform. It takes less than 10 minutes to unlock your account and start receiving alerts!
Need reliable, short-term volunteer support for your next event or campaign?
Our Action Team is a network of Northumberland residents seeking flexible, micro-volunteering opportunities. We connect local charities, councils, and community groups with this local pool at zero cost.
How we support you
We manage the logistics so you can focus on your event:
- Event setup and admin: We handle event creation, invitations and GDPR-compliant coordination.
- Smart filtering: We match volunteers based on location and specific skill requirements.
- Verified profiles: We confirm travel availability, skills, DBS status and specialist experience (e.g SEN).
Criteria for opportunities
To ensure the flexibility our volunteers value, tasks must meet three criteria:
- Zero onboarding: Volunteers can start immediately after a brief 10-minute on-site induction.
- Defined time: Tasks have a strict start and end time (e.g., a one-off festival shift).
- No long-term commitment: There is no pressure for volunteers to commit to permanent roles.
Get started today
If you have an upcoming event in Northumberland, simply contact us with your location and task details.
Email: emmajanemcguire@citizensadvicenorthumberland.org.uk
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:
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Streamline recruitment and onboarding – eliminate the hassle of chasing references and DBS checks
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Engage and motivate volunteers – track contributions and celebrate achievements
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Showcase volunteer impact – provide a portable, verified record of each volunteer’s experience
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Save time and resources – perfect for small teams delivering big results
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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
EmmaJane – emmajanemcguire@thrivingtogethernorthumberland.org.uk
Why get involved?
The Volunteer Passport is more than just a logbook, it’s a way to:
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Show off your skills and experience.
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Try different kinds of roles, depending on your time and interests.
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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.
Watch Northumberland County Council’s Executive Director of Public Health, Stronger Communities and Inequalities, Gill as she discusses the benefits of using our Volunteer Passport.
Catherine and EmmaJane recently recorded a chat they had about the Volunteer Passport and have hopefully answered some of the questions you might have … you can listen in below
