Volunteer It Yourself CIC
Previous work
During 2024-25 the project successfully completed three impactful community projects at Gateshead Redheugh 1957 Community FC, The Drop-In, and Teams Life Centre. Our efforts have been dedicated to engaging local young people, with each project focused on enhancing community facilities, fostering collaboration, and promoting sustainability.
These improvements have helped create vibrant and productive spaces where young people and community groups can come together.
Project summary
The 25-26 proposal covers the delivery of a further three community facility refurbishment and transformation projects located across Gateshead. At the heart of the delivery model, the refurbishment works on the projects will be undertaken by a team of local young volunteers aged 14 to 24 who are socially excluded and/or economically inactive/unemployed and face other barriers accessing support. They will learn and apply vocational trade skills on the job whilst being mentored by, and working alongside, professional tradespeople (a mix of local volunteer mentors and VIY Lead Mentors). Each young volunteer will have the chance to gain Entry Level 3 City & Guilds trade skills accreditations, as well as to receive support in progressing to employment and further/higher-level training opportunities, including apprenticeships, beyond the end of their VIY experience.
Project 1: Launching in June - The Elgin Centre, Gateshead
The first VIY project of the summer will take place at The Elgin Centre, a vital community hub in Gateshead. The centre provides a wide range of services aimed at improving health and wellbeing, supporting education, and delivering social services to local residents. It regularly hosts workshops, training sessions, and support groups, and offers facilities for local organisations to promote community collaboration.
What VIY is doing
VIY (Volunteer It Yourself) will be constructing a combined seating and raised planter area in the outdoor space used by children. In addition, individual planters will be created for each group that uses the centre, giving them their own space to grow and care for plants.
What the impact of the project will be
This project will transform the outdoor area into a more engaging and usable space for the community. It will encourage participation in gardening and planting, giving different groups the opportunity to connect with nature, develop new skills, and take pride in maintaining their environment.
Project 2: Launching in August - Gateshead Youth Council
Our second project, starting in August, will be held in partnership with the Gateshead Youth Council. This organisation empowers young people by helping them develop essential life skills, self-confidence, self-esteem, and a strong sense of civic responsibility. They support youth in designing, delivering, and evaluating their own social action projects.
More details on VIY's involvement in this project will be shared soon and Project 3.
Contact details for project:
Programme Manager- Matt Mellor
Senior Programme Director- Dee Dee Whelan
matt@teamviy.com / deedee@teamviy.com
Telephone: 07544 854193 / 07380 298248