Useful Vision organises a range of entertaining and stimulating activities for vision-impaired children and their families across the North East.  We also run skills workshops for older children and teenagers who have sight loss to help them develop the skills and confidence to move towards positive living; as well as very sensory focused toddler groups for the younger children.

It would not be possible to run any of our activities without the assistance of volunteers to help on the day. We have three volunteering opportunities that will support our delivery of our jam-packed program of activities.

Family Fun Day Volunteer

Useful Vision are holding the event of the summer and we need your support! We are hosting a Family Fun Day for over 100 people on Sunday 5^th June. Volunteer’s will be supporting as Parking Marshals, Raffle Coordinators, Welcome Team, and Sports Activity Volunteers.

You will be working closely with the Activity Co-ordinator and Volunteer Co-ordinator to support visually impaired children and their families, ensure activities are run smoothly, and provide on the day support to the Useful Vision staff and facilitators. Key tasks include:

• Parking Marshal and Sighted Guide.
• Welcome Team ensuring families are registered, coordinating bookings, and giving our wristbands.
• Coordinating the raffle stall on the day and selling tickets.
• Facilitating garden games and informal sports sessions during the day.
• Setting up and clearing away equipment.

Date: Sunday 5th June

Location: Newburn Activity Centre

Young Person Support Volunteer

Useful Vision need volunteers to support our upcoming summer holiday programme for visually impaired 12 – 18 year olds. You will be working closely with the Activity Co-ordinator and Volunteer Co-ordinator to support visually impaired teenagers 1-1, ensure activities are run smoothly, and provide on the day support to the Useful Vision staff. Key tasks include:

• Ensuring the group can fully access the activities. Full Sighted Guiding Training and VI Awareness will be provided to support volunteers.
• Providing support to the Useful Vision staff when moving from venue to venue.
• Engage with the children by chatting to them, organising informal sports etc.

Dates: Friday 29th July, Friday 5th August, and Friday 12th August.

Locations: Ouseburn Community Centre, Cullercoats Bay, and The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle.

Fundraising Volunteer

Useful Vision need volunteers to support our work in fundraising to deliver our programme of free, accessible activities to visually impaired children and their families.

This will be an office-based job, one morning or afternoon per week and ad-hoc weekends where you will be supporting the Useful Vision Team to deliver fundraising events across the northeast. These can include a raffle, a sponsored walk, a create-a-sticker campaign… and anything else you can think of!

You will be working closely with the Communications Officer and Charity Coordinator to research opportunities, contact relevant connections, and deliver admin support. Key tasks include:

• Contacting relevant local organisations via telephone, email, and letter.
• Coordinating collection tin locations.
• Coordinate raffle donations, tickets, and stall.
• Promoting sponsored events and coordinating sponsorship.
• Delivering make a sticker competition.
• Supporting administration in the office.

You need to…

• Have the ability to communicate the mission of the charity clearly and concisely.
• Be passionate about making a different to the lives of visually impaired children.
• Be organised, responsible, reliable, and able to work independently.
• Adaptable and flexible to the needs of the charity.

Date: This is an ongoing, office based role for 1 morning or afternoon per week.

Location: The Lemington Centre, Newcastle

With all our volunteer roles, you will gain the opportunity to utilise existing and new skills to make a difference to people’s lives, meet new people, be part of an inclusive and supportive team, attend free training, and be reimbursed for expenses.

Email Sophie at sophie.westlake@usefulvision.org.uk for further information.