REDCAR and Cleveland residents have the chance to learn about local volunteering opportunities and connect with local groups, organisations and charities during the upcoming Volunteer Fayre.
Taking place on Wednesday, 3 June, at St Nicholas Church Hall in Guisborough, the event will be dedicated to local volunteers and residents are invited to drop in anytime between 10am and 12pm.
The event will also be a great opportunity to meet representatives from local support service, Enhance Redcar & Cleveland who will be offering advice to groups and charities on training, funding and how to promote your volunteer roles as well as professional guidance on running a charity, Community Interest Company and “Friends of” groups.
The Volunteer Fayre is open to all, whether you're an experienced volunteer or simply curious about how you can get involved in your community. Refreshments will be available throughout the event.
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your local community, while meeting people, creating new long-lasting friendships, and doing something you enjoy.
One of the groups who made a great difference for their local area, is the Saltburn Valley Gardens Volunteers, a team formed in 2022 to help care for the Valley Gardens, working alongside the Council’s staff. The group was set up in response to areas falling into neglect and now carries out tasks such as maintaining flower beds, cutting back vegetation to improve access, cleaning steps and litter picking. “There’s still more to do,” Ian, one of the volunteers said, “but now you can see the area is being cared for.”
Another invaluable group are the Friends of Loftus Library, who were established in 2017 to enhance the library’s role as a community hub. Secretary Debbie Rolls, who has lived in Loftus for five years said volunteering had given her the chance to reconnect with a lifelong love of libraries and use her teaching experience in new ways. “Libraries are incredibly important places,” she said. “I’m very keen to encourage people who have retired to do volunteering in some way. It’s an opportunity to do something you love while helping and connecting with other people.”
The group supports a wide range of activities, including creative writing, photography, arts and crafts, history walks and children’s sessions, welcoming participants of all ages and abilities. “On one session we had a four-year-old child and someone who was nearly 80 having fun together.”
Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Cllr Alec Brown, said: “Volunteers play a vital role in supporting our communities and helping local services and spaces thrive. From caring for green spaces and heritage sites to supporting libraries and community activities, their time, skills and dedication make a real difference. Events like the Volunteer Fayre are an important way to recognise that contribution and to help connect people with opportunities that benefit both individuals and the wider community.”
If you’d like to join one of these groups or looking for a different opportunity, come along to the Volunteers Fayre. Organisations and groups attending include: Saltburn in Bloom, Saltburn Friends of the Valley, and Saltburn Allotment Association, Guisborough Town Pride, Guisborough Bridge Association, Saltburn Folk Festival, The Nest in Guisborough, Guisborough Priory Project, Guisborough Museum, Guisborough Cemetery Friends, Friends of Cancer Research, Teesside Hospice, The Council’s Countryside Team, Best Start Family Hubs Team, Community Safety Team, Youth Service Team, Libraries Team, U3a Guisborough & Saltburn, Citizen Advice, Harbour & We Are with You, Home Start.
For more information, please contact: Volunteer@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk or visit Volunteering FAQs | Redcar and Cleveland