Celebrating NCFE’s brilliant volunteers

We’re celebrating the amazing volunteers we here at NCFE. Alongside their day jobs, a number of the NCFE team volunteer for various roles from Parkrun supports to Apprentice Farmers! We’ve also got a team of colleagues heading off to Zanzibar later this year to volunteer in local schools and towns. In this article, we’ve highlighted just some of our volunteers and the inspirational work they’re doing for their communities.

Team Zanzibar – African Adventures

In October this year, a group of our NCFE colleagues and friends will be heading to Stone Town, Zanzibar, for an eight-day volunteering trip through African Adventures, where they’ll support Flora Primary School in developing both their physical structures with a range of building projects, and also in the classroom, helping children access education that is so often hard to come by in developing areas.

Through a combination of better facilities and positive behavioural change, the project aims to ensure that each school enjoys better student attendance and higher academic attainment, and the team have been involved in multiple fundraising efforts to support the cost of the trip. Many of the colleagues have also made use of our Community Time Bank scheme for the Zanzibar project, which allows colleagues to contribute to our core purpose of promoting and advancing learning through offering up to 12 hours per year to carry out work that contributes to education-based charitable activities.

Zoe Green, Research Analyst at NCFE

"When I heard about the opportunity to go to Zanzibar, I knew it was for me. I'm really looking forward to what I’m sure will be an eye-opening experience. This will be a great chance to support the schools and learners of Zanzibar in any way we can. This will also be a completely new experience for me having never taught in a school environment before so I am hoping to come back with some new skills and to increase my confidence."

Kelly Johnson, Provider Development Manager at NCFE

“This is the chance of a lifetime opportunity for me. I’ve always thought it would be amazing to do something like this, but other things always pushed it to the bottom of my ‘I’d love to do list’!

"But not this time, I’m actually travelling to Zanzibar and volunteering in a local community where I’ll be teaching students in schools, providing basic education support for reading and writing and helping to maintain building amenities. This is my time to give something back where, together, every little bit of support we provide will go a long way to changing lives and have such a positive impact on the people and children of this community."

Jodie and Pepper Wade – Wag and Company

Jodie wade, Resource Manager, and her dog Pepper, have recently started volunteering as Wag Befrienders with Wag and Company, a North East charity whose mission is to end loneliness for older dog lovers. Wag and Company help to coordinate volunteers in the North East and their special pet dogs to provide elderly people, often in poor health or isolated, with some human company for a chat and a cuddle with that much-missed furry friend.

“We're excited to start visiting a lady in Newcastle, who was referred to the service by her GP for loneliness. She is no longer able to take care of a dog of her own, so Pepper (escorted by Jodie!) has been given the very important job of visiting her regularly to cheer her up.”

Charmaine Phelps, Tin on a Wall Volunteer  

Charmaine Phelps, Provider Development Officer at NCFE, volunteers for Tin on a Wall, a volunteer-led community interest Company who's volunteers collect non-perishable food and household essentials every first Saturday of the month for a number of charities, food banks and community groups in North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne. Tin on a Wall won the Spirit of North Tyneside award for “caring for people in your community” in 2023.

Charmaine volunteers for around 2 hours per month, and this is split into approximately an hour of leafleting in local streets to let neighbours know that the collection will take place, and then collecting the donations on collection day.

“It’s a great way to get to know your neighbourhood while supporting a worthy cause. I remember the first time I went for collections and it was so lovely to see people kindly leaving bags with the Tin on a Wall flyer stuck to them, it felt like Christmas even though the bags weren’t for me personally! I have my favourite donors, even though I don’t get to meet everyone in person – a lady who leaves a couple of tins on her windowsill as it’s a terrace leading straight onto the street, monthly tins of tuna on the step of a van, and a carton of UHT milk consistently left in the basket outside my house. Other generous neighbours leave out a full bag of shopping. We also have volunteer-only appeals, like Christmas gifts and Easter eggs for homeless people. Anyone in the North Tyneside and Newcastle areas can volunteer to start a collection in their street by submitting a form on the Tin on a Wall website.”

Donna McEwan, Parkrun Support 

Donna McEwan, Content Solutions Workstream Manager at NCFE, volunteers as Parkrun Support at various Parkrun locations. Donna began volunteering in late 2019 and has volunteered at over 50 runs to date, including one outside of the UK! Having previously taken part in running events, Donna always appreciated the support from the volunteers.

“I love the ethos behind Parkrun, to give people a safe space to improve their wellbeing, get outdoors and meet other people, and all at no cost. It doesn’t matter whether you walk, jog, or run. Some people bring their dogs, others bring little ones in their buggies; it’s very inclusive!  You get to meet all sorts of people and I love hearing their stories about why they do Parkrun and what the day’s achievement means to them. I would definitely recommend volunteering as It’s a great way to meet people, try new things and give something back to the community.”

Emma Buglass, Farmer’s Apprentice

Emma Buglass, Senior Customer Support Advisor at NCFE, volunteers on a farm in Slaley each year to help with lambing. She started in 2019 after hearing about ‘ecotherapy’, where being outdoors surrounded by nature can improve your mental health. Having rented a cottage on a farm in Northumberland for a night away, Emma asked the farmer if she could help out. Her role involves assisting in births, numbering the sheep and their lambs, moving sheep and their lambs from maternity ward to nursery to field, feeding, health checks and field checks. 

“I love everything and the role! The fresh air and amount of space is amazing, the sheep are lush and pulling a lamb into the world will never get boring. The orphaned pet lambs are like little puppies, they get bottle fed and love to have a play! It’s all so far removed from what I do in day-to-day life. It’s hard work but feels like an absolute treat, and I’m very lucky I found them and they were happy for me to get stuck in! I would absolutely recommend volunteering, you’re helping someone who needs it, and you get a warm fuzzy feeling seeing how it has helped.”  

Kelly Graham, Host Dog Sitter, Barking Mad

Kelly Graham, Project Manager at NCFE, previously volunteered as a School Governor at Ponteland Community High School for two years, after wanting to give back to the community and gain a greater insight into the world of education. After gaining lots of insight from that role, she now volunteers as a Host Dog Sitter with Barking Mad, where their boarding service provides pets with a safe and comfortable place to stay while their owners are away. Kelly and her family often volunteer to look after dogs whilst their owners are on holiday.

“I love looking after dogs, they're great company for our Cockapoo Lola and an additional excuse to explore new places and go for long walks. I love exploring the outdoors.”

Kelly Parker, Driver and Host  

Kelly Parker, EPA Independent End Point Assessor as NCFE, volunteers for Re-engage who organises tea parties for the elderly one Sunday a month. During the pandemic, volunteers have also been calling them and helping them to do their shopping. Kelly has been volunteering as a driver and host for the Ipswich area for over two and a half years after missing working in care.   

“I wanted to support the elderly, providing company for those who are lonely is very rewarding. I collect people from their homes and drive them to a tea party one Sunday a month and occasionally will host a tea party at my house!” 

Rachael Lacey, School Governor

Rachael Lacey, Principal Lead External Quality Assurer at NCFE, volunteers as a school governor through Inspiring Governance, who connect skilled volunteers that are interested in serving as school governors with schools in England, after looking to develop here knowledge and skills in this area.

“I applied to be a secondary school governor through Inspiring Governance, following a webinar I attended, promoted by NCFE. My background prior to working for NCFE was working within FE, so I thought this would be a great way to develop my knowledge of the secondary landscape, as well as being able to share my support to a local school. I have recently been appointed as link governor for both the school sixth form and for careers, which I’m really enjoying, it allows me to get into the school and really feel involved.

"I would definitely recommend volunteering as a school governor, it is both rewarding and supports me in my role here.” 

Feeling inspired?  

There are lots of voluntary roles out there within your local community. The links below will help you find a volunteer role which is most suited to your lifestyle and commitments.  

• CharityJob  
• Do-It 
• Gov.uk 
• NCVO