Your Voice Counts

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

Our garden is growing! 🌱

Help our Garden Grow is our project to transform the outside area at our Gateshead office into a welcoming wellbeing space. Our volunteering team and Community Voice team have been working together on the project and this week arranged special sessions for people to come along and help us get to work.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to clear weeds, assemble furniture and plant flowers. The space will now be used for activities, social events and future gardening projects.

💬 Barry said: "It was nice to meet new people, and I got a sense of achievement seeing the progress we made. I look forward to the final product so I can come and chill out."

💬 Ricky said: "I enjoyed it and got a sense of satisfaction seeing all the weeds gone. To see the before and after was great."

A huge thank you to Angie from Gateshead Extra in the community , Donna from Asda, The Paint Shed Sunderland and Northumbria Police Community Engagement Team for their generous donations and support.

If you'd like to volunteer with YVC or donate items such as plants, compost, planters or a hosepipe, we'd love to hear from you! Please email [email protected] to get in touch 😀

04/06/2026

Jarrow Crusade provides backdrop for annual South Tyneside carers' march

03/06/2026

Could you volunteer with Your Voice Counts? 💚

It's so what better time to think about volunteering? We offer a welcoming and supportive environment with opportunities that are a little bit different – we currently have vacancies for:

✨ Drop-in Group Supporters
Help us at our regular groups in Jarrow and Boldon for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

✨ Trans/LGBTQ+ Support Group Volunteer
Support our monthly group at Marsden Community Centre in South Shields.

✨ Advocacy Volunteer
Visit people living in care homes to help reduce isolation and loneliness and support our advocacy service. Various times and locations available.

Interested? Visit www.yvc.org.uk/volunteers or email [email protected] to find out more.

Our team of volunteers helps us to reach more people who need our support. In return, our volunteers benefit from valuable and rewarding work experience, training and development opportunities and mentoring and support from our staff team.

02/06/2026

Our Volunteer Coordinator Ann was at the Newcastle Opportunities Fair today talking about our volunteering opportunities.

It was great to share a table with Harley from the Gateshead Volunteer Centre. One of our very own volunteers, David, also popped along to help us chat to people and share information.

A big thank you to everyone who came over to say hello, we loved meeting so many people interested in making a difference in their community! 💙

Volunteer Centre Newcastle Connected Voice

02/06/2026

Our Independent Advocate Rebecca will be available at these sessions in South Tyneside this month - pop along to chat to her if you have any questions about advocacy or how we can help you.

Please note the session at Keelman's Way School is for parents/carers of pupils only.

https://www.yvc.org.uk/advocacydropin

South Tyneside SENDIASS Age Concern Tyneside South

02/06/2026

Our Volunteer Coordinator Ann and some of our amazing volunteers are at the Volunteer Fair at Newcastle Cathedral until 1.30pm today! 💚

The fair is a chance to find out about all the volunteer opportunities with organisations across the area. We’ve got lots on offer at Your Voice Counts, including volunteer roles for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Come along, say hello and find out more! 👋

01/06/2026

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 & 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 – 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ✨
As part of Learning Disability Week, we’re bringing together a range of local services at our annual Information, Advice and Support in South Tyneside drop‑in event.

We’re delighted to be joined by Your Voice Counts who will be attending on the day to meet with families and professionals. They’ll be available to talk through the support they offer and answer any questions about how families in South Tyneside can access their services.

✅ No need to book
✅ Free to attend
✅ Drop in at any time

We look forward to welcoming you!

01/06/2026

What do carers of people with developmental disabilities need from yoga? 🧘

Researchers from Northumbria University are looking for carers of people with a developmental disability to take part in an online focus group on Friday 12 June.

If you're a carer and interested in taking part, please email [email protected] or [email protected] - you will receive a £25 ‘love to shop’ voucher as a thank you.

01/06/2026

It’s and we’re celebrating our fantastic volunteers! 💚

We hold quarterly volunteer meetings led by our Volunteer Coordinator Ann. These sessions are a great chance for volunteers to get to know each other, access any training and support they need, hear updates from Your Voice Counts and find out about new opportunities to get involved.

Here’s a lovely photo from our last meeting - thank you to all our amazing volunteers for everything you do! 🌟

Want to join us? Visit www.yvc.org.uk/volunteers to find out more about getting involved.