Could you provide a friendly face to members of the public visiting our community shop?
Could you welcome people to the foodbank or help sort and pack food into emergency food boxes? If the answer is yes, then we would love to hear from you!
Here you will find current volunteer opportunities within DCP.
County Durham and Sunderland Foodbanks
The foodbank supplies emergency food to local people in crisis. There are a variety of roles within the foodbank. Below are descriptions of some of the main areas:
Distribution Centres
The volunteers meet and listen to people who come to the foodbank with a voucher to get food. They offer them a drink and a cake or biscuit and advise them of relevant agencies or sources of support, aid or advice according to their needs. The volunteers need to be able to cope with people from a variety of backgrounds, listen to them, make them feel comfortable and valuable and make appropriate recommendations. They also need to be able to make up the bags of food according to defined packing lists and record transactions on the database.
Currently the following distribution centres are looking for volunteers:
- Annfield Plain
- Crook
- Spennymoor – St. Pauls
- Willington
To find out more on these locations and their opening times visit the County Durham Foodbank website.
Foodbank Warehouse
Volunteers weigh arriving food, sort it by type and date and record the information on the database. They make up emergency food boxes according to packing lists. They also make up loads to go to restock the distribution centres, weighing out the food and recording the information.
Food Collection
This may involve liaison with churches, schools or businesses. Supermarket collection days involve interacting with shoppers, encouraging them to give to the foodbank, collecting in food, thanking donors, sorting and loading the food.
DCP Community Shop
The DCP Community Shop is an established charity shop in Framwellgate Moor. It is popular with the local community selling clothing, books, toys and all manner of other household items. Profits from the shop are used to fund the work of Durham Christian Partnership. With some dedicated volunteers and staff it is presently open 5 days a week (Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 4.30pm).
We are currently looking for shop volunteers to help to serve customers along with sorting the donations that are received and pricing goods – the shop is a very friendly place that gives our volunteers and customers the opportunity to feel part of a community.
Why volunteer with us? Our volunteers have said:
“Feeling valued and recognised for the effort and contribuiton”
“Enjoy being part of a team and having regular interactions with others”
“Learning and developing practical skills”
“Satisfaction in knowing that the work has purpose and makes a difference”
“Having a set routine that gives structure and consistency”
“Opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives and to contribute to something meaningful that benefits the community”
“Being part of a team where everyone supports and learns from each other”
If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact the volunteer coordinator. If it’s for the Foodbank, please state which location(s) you would like to work and the days and times you are available so we can match you to a suitable role. If it’s for our Community Shop, please also state the days and times you are available. We would love for you to join us!