Meaningful Engagement Session, 4 June 2026: Volunteer Strategy - This consultation has now ended

Join us for a Meaningful Engagement Session on Newcastle City Council's Volunteer Strategy. We want to hear about your experiences, ideas and views on volunteering to help create a more accessible, inclusive and rewarding volunteering offer for residents.


Meaningful Engagement Sessions provide tenants with the opportunity to influence policies, services and future plans. This session will focus on the development of Newcastle City Council's Volunteer Strategy and how volunteering opportunities can be made easier to access, better supported and more rewarding for those who take part.

What this is about
Volunteering takes place across a range of council services, but experiences can vary depending on where and how people get involved. The Council is developing a Volunteer Strategy to create a more consistent approach, make it easier for people to volunteer, ensure volunteers feel supported, and provide opportunities that are meaningful and worthwhile. We want to hear directly from tenants about what works well, what could be improved and what would encourage more people to get involved.

What this will cover
During this session, we will explore:
  • People's experiences and perceptions of volunteering.
  • What motivates people to volunteer and the benefits it can bring.
  • Barriers that may prevent people from getting involved.
  • The support volunteers need to feel confident and valued.
  • The types of volunteering opportunities that would be most appealing.
  • Whether opportunities should be focused within housing services or across the wider council.
  • The Council's proposed approach to volunteering and whether it reflects what matters most to residents. 

Through discussion and interactive activities, participants will help shape the future Volunteer Strategy by identifying priorities, testing proposed ideas and highlighting practical improvements. Feedback from this session will be used to strengthen the strategy and ensure it reflects the experiences, needs and aspirations of residents and volunteers.

Thanks to everyone who took part.
Wards

Start Date

04 June 2026

End Date

04 June 2026

Days Remaining

0

Result

Thank You


Thank you to everyone who took part in our Meaningful Engagement Session on the Volunteer Strategy. Your experiences, ideas and feedback have helped us better understand what encourages people to volunteer, the barriers that can prevent involvement, and the support needed to create a positive volunteering experience. The insight gathered will help shape the development of Newcastle City Council's Volunteer Strategy.

What We Heard


Volunteering creates value for individuals and communities
Participants spoke positively about volunteering and the benefits it can bring. Tenants felt volunteering can build confidence, develop skills, create a sense of purpose and strengthen community connections. Volunteering was viewed as a way for people to share their knowledge, skills and lived experience while making a positive contribution to their communities.

Barriers can prevent people from getting involved
Tenants identified several barriers to volunteering, including limited awareness of opportunities, uncertainty about how to get involved, concerns about time commitments, accessibility issues and worries about the impact on benefits. Participants also highlighted that some people lack confidence or feel they have little to offer.
 
Good support is essential
Participants felt volunteers should receive ongoing support, not just information at the start of their journey. Suggestions included providing a named contact, clear information about roles and expectations, regular communication and opportunities for peer support. Existing volunteers were also seen as an important source of encouragement and advice.

Feedback matters more than recognition
Tenants told us that volunteers want to understand the impact of their contribution and see how their time and effort make a difference. While formal recognition was welcomed, participants felt meaningful feedback and evidence of impact were more important than awards or events alone. 

A more joined-up approach is needed
Participants supported a more coordinated approach to volunteering across the Council. Tenants felt it should be easier to find opportunities, move between different volunteering roles and access a wider range of opportunities through a single, consistent approach.

What Happens Next?


The feedback from this session will be used to inform the development of the Volunteer Strategy and future action planning. In particular, the findings will help shape work around communication, accessibility, volunteer support, feedback mechanisms and the coordination of volunteering opportunities across the Council. We will continue to share updates and demonstrate how tenant feedback has influenced the final strategy.

Tags

  • Consultations
  • Housing

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