Give your time locally

Volunteer with New Mills Volunteer Centre and help people in New Mills and nearby villages stay connected, independent and supported.

APPLY TO VOLUNTEER

There are lots of ways you can help

We have more than 300 volunteers registered with the Centre, from a wide variety of backgrounds. Volunteering is open to everyone. Every contribution is welcome, whether you can help regularly, occasionally, or just want to find out what might suit you.

Ways you can volunteer

Call someone for a chat
A regular phone call can make a real difference to someone who is feeling isolated.

Help with shopping
Support people who find it difficult to shop on their own, or help with organised shopping trips.

Support groups and activities
Help at social groups, lunch clubs, exercise sessions and community activities.

Drive someone to an appointment
Use your own car to help people get to medical appointments when public transport isn’t suitable.

Use practical skills
Help local people with small gardening jobs when they need a hand.

Help at the centre
Support reception, admin, fundraising and events, or trustee work.

What happens next

New volunteers complete an application form and provide two references. Depending on the role, a DBS check may also be needed. We’ll ask what kind of volunteering interests you, when you’re available, and then contact you when there’s a suitable opportunity.

Why our Volunteers do it!

We asked a few of our regular volunteers why they volunteer and what they think the impact of volunteering is. The video below is what our volunteers had to say.

Befriending and telephone befriending

Help someone feel less isolated by offering regular conversation and companionship.

As a befriending volunteer, you might visit someone for a chat, play a game together, go out for a short walk, or simply spend time with someone who would value the company. Visits are usually once a week, but this is informal and agreed between you and the person you’re supporting.

We also offer telephone befriending. If you have around 15 minutes a week to spare, a regular phone call can give someone something to look forward to and help them feel more connected.

For more information, contact Fiona:
Tel: 01663 744196
Email: fiona@nmvc.org

Shopping support

Help people who are unable to get to the shops or use online shopping services.

Shopping volunteers may collect orders, shop locally, deliver groceries, or help people with regular shopping needs. Some volunteers also help by driving people to organised shopping trips, where they can shop for themselves with support.

Any shopping support must be agreed with the Centre in advance. This also applies if you are volunteering as a befriender and someone asks you to buy or collect something for them.

For more information, contact Fiona:
Tel: 01663 744196
Email: fiona@nmvc.org

Support people at local groups and activities

Volunteers help organise and support people at regular groups, including Knit & Natter, Acoustic Soup, Friday Lunch Club, Kinder Social Group and chair-based exercise sessions.

This could include helping people feel welcome, serving refreshments, setting up the room, supporting activities, or simply being there for a chat.

For more information, contact Lorna:
Tel: 01663 744196
Email: lorna@nmvc.org

Driving people to medical appointments

Help people get to medical appointments and community activities when they cannot use public transport.

Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take elderly, disabled and isolated local people to appointments at hospitals, surgeries and clinics. Drivers may also help people get to group activities where transport is needed.

Good to know:

You’ll need a clean driving licence and your own car.
A mileage allowance is paid to cover costs.
Minibus driving may also be available and requires MiDAS certification.

For more information, contact Hannah:
Tel: 01663 744196
Email: hannah@nmvc.org

Gardening and small DIY jobs

Help with small practical jobs for people who cannot manage them on their own.

Volunteers may help with simple gardening tasks such as weeding, planting, clearing beds, or general garden tidy-ups for people who are unable to manage their garden due to mobility issues, ill health, disability, or age-related need.

There may also be occasional small DIY jobs, such as changing light bulbs or helping with minor practical tasks for local people or at the Volunteer Centre.

For more information, contact Lorna:
Tel: 01663 744196
Email: lorna@nmvc.org

Reception

Help welcome people and keep the Volunteer Centre running smoothly.

Reception volunteers answer phone calls, transfer enquiries to the right member of staff, and act as the first point of contact for people coming into the Centre.

You may also help with general office tasks and simple admin when needed.

For more information, contact Julie:
Tel: 01663 744196
Email: Julie@nmvc.org

Fundraising

Help raise money to support the running of New Mills Volunteer Centre.

Fundraising volunteers help organise and support local activities such as coffee mornings, street collections, raffles, sales, and other community events. There may also be opportunities to help make or sell items to raise funds.

You can also visit our Events page to see current fundraising activities.

For more information, contact Lorna:
Tel: 01663 744196
Email: lorna@nmvc.org

Trustees

Help guide the future of New Mills Volunteer Centre.

The Volunteer Centre is run by a Board of Trustees. From time to time, we need volunteers to join the Board and help oversee the running of the Centre, support good decision-making, and guide its future direction.

This role may suit someone with experience in community work, finance, fundraising, governance, communications, HR, or local services — but you don’t need to come from a formal charity background to get involved.

For more information, contact Mark:
Tel: 01663 744196
Email: mark@nmvc.org

Ready to volunteer?

Complete the volunteer application form or contact us if you’d like to talk it through first.