Interested in volunteering?
Administration - Design - Youth Work - Training - Events
YOU WILL NEED
- 3 – 5 hours a week
- Enhanced DBS Check
- A passion for working with children and young people
- Good time keeping and communication skills
Apply for an expression of interest
Purpose of the Role
The purpose of this role is to help maintain a safe, welcoming, and well-presented environment at Focus Coffee House. The volunteer will support with basic maintenance, decorating, repairs, and practical tasks that help keep the café running smoothly for customers, volunteers, and the wider community.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys practical work, DIY tasks, and supporting community spaces.
What You Will Be Doing
Tasks may include:
- Carrying out basic DIY and maintenance tasks
- Supporting painting, decorating, and general upkeep
- Assembling furniture or equipment
- Helping maintain safe and tidy indoor and outdoor spaces
- Carrying out minor repairs where appropriate
- Supporting with café setup for events or activities
- Reporting maintenance issues to staff
- Helping create a clean, welcoming, and community-friendly environment
- Assisting with gardening or outdoor improvements where needed
Tasks will be matched to individual skills, abilities, and confidence levels, with support provided where required.
Skills, Experience & Qualities Needed
No formal qualifications are required, although basic DIY or maintenance experience would be beneficial.
We are looking for people who are:
- Practical and hands-on
- Reliable and willing to help
- Safety-conscious
- Able to work independently or as part of a team
- Positive and community-minded
- Willing to learn new skills
Experience in decorating, maintenance, gardening, carpentry, repairs, or general DIY is helpful but not essential.
This role may suit:
- Retired tradespeople
- People wanting to share practical skills
- Individuals looking to gain confidence or work experience
- Volunteers interested in improving community spaces
Accessibility & Transport Information
Focus Coffee House aims to provide an inclusive and supportive volunteering environment.
Location
Focus Coffee House
9 South Burns
Chester-le-Street
DH3 3EZ
The café is located on a main bus route with good public transport links and is within walking distance of Chester-le-Street train station.
Some aspects of this role may involve lifting, bending, or practical physical tasks. However, tasks can often be adapted based on individual abilities and support needs.
We will work with volunteers to make reasonable adjustments wherever possible.
When & Where
This role is based at Focus Coffee House in Chester-le-Street.
Volunteer opportunities are generally available:
- Monday to Friday
- Between 8:00am and 3:00pm
Some maintenance tasks may also take place outside normal café opening hours where appropriate and agreed in advance.
Flexible volunteering arrangements are available, including:
- Short sessions
- Weekly volunteering
- Project-based support
- Flexible or supported placements
Training, Support & Expenses
All volunteers will receive:
- Full induction and guidance
- Ongoing support from staff and volunteers
- Health and safety guidance
- Opportunities to develop practical and employability skills
Travel expenses can be reimbursed in line with the organisation’s volunteer expenses policy.
Any equipment or materials required for tasks will be provided where appropriate.
Volunteer Benefits
Volunteering in this role can help you:
- Develop practical DIY and maintenance skills
- Gain confidence and experience
- Meet new people and work as part of a supportive team
- Improve wellbeing through purposeful activity
- Strengthen teamwork and problem-solving skills
- Contribute positively to your local community
- Gain experience that may support future employment or volunteering opportunities
Volunteers will also have the opportunity to see the direct impact of their work in helping improve a valued community space.
Any Other Information
Focus Coffee House is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for all volunteers.
We welcome applications from:
- People of all ages and backgrounds
- Individuals wanting to build confidence or practical skills
- Retired or semi-retired people
- Neurodiverse individuals
- People returning to work or volunteering
- Anyone interested in supporting their local community
Some tasks may involve working with tools or equipment under supervision and guidance.
Hours
Volunteer hours are flexible and can be agreed based on availability and café needs.
Typical volunteering opportunities are available:
- Monday to Friday
- Between 8:00am and 3:00pm
Example volunteering sessions may include:
- 2–3 hour sessions
- Morning or afternoon shifts
- Weekly maintenance support
- One-off improvement projects
Both short-term and ongoing volunteering opportunities are available.
Purpose of the Role
The purpose of this role is to help promote Focus Coffee House and its community activities through social media and local communications. The volunteer will support the café in raising awareness, engaging with the local community, promoting volunteer opportunities and events, and sharing the positive impact of the project.
This role is ideal for someone interested in social media, marketing, communications, content creation, or community engagement.
What You Will Be Doing
Tasks may include:
- Creating engaging social media content for:
- TikTok
- Local community pages
- Taking photos and short videos within the café
- Promoting volunteer opportunities, events, activities, and community projects
- Writing short people-focused posts and captions
- Designing simple promotional graphics or posters
- Helping increase community awareness and engagement
- Supporting campaigns, fundraising, and local partnerships
- Sharing positive stories about volunteers, customers, and community impact
- Helping maintain a consistent and welcoming online presence
Example promotional messages may include:
“Gain confidence, meet people, learn café skills, and support your community.”
Volunteers may also have the opportunity to contribute ideas for campaigns, content planning, and digital engagement.
Skills, Experience & Qualities Needed
No formal experience is required, although an interest in social media, marketing, photography, or communications would be beneficial.
We are looking for people who are:
- Creative and enthusiastic
- Friendly and community-minded
- Confident using social media platforms
- Good communicators
- Reliable and organised
- Comfortable working as part of a team
- Interested in promoting positive community impact
Experience with Canva, photography, video editing, or social media scheduling tools is helpful but not essential.
This role is suitable for:
- Young people looking to gain media experience
- Students or graduates
- People building confidence or employability skills
- Volunteers interested in digital communications or marketing careers
Accessibility & Transport Information
Focus Coffee House aims to provide an inclusive and accessible volunteering environment.
Location
Focus Coffee House
9 South Burns
Chester-le-Street
DH3 3EZ
The café is located on a main bus route with good transport links and is within walking distance of Chester-le-Street train station.
We will work with volunteers to make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to ensure volunteering is accessible and supportive.
Some tasks may also be completed remotely by arrangement.
When & Where
This role is primarily based at Focus Coffee House in Chester-le-Street, with some flexibility for remote content creation and scheduling.
Volunteer opportunities are available during café opening hours:
- Monday to Friday
- Between 8:00am and 3:00pm
Flexible volunteering arrangements are available, including:
- Weekly sessions
- Flexible hours
- Short placements
- Project-based opportunities
- Supported volunteering placements
Training, Support & Expenses
All volunteers will receive:
- Full induction and guidance
- Ongoing support from staff and volunteers
- Opportunities to develop digital and communication skills
- Support with content planning and social media ideas
Travel expenses can be reimbursed in line with the organisation’s volunteer expenses policy.
Volunteer Benefits
Volunteering in this role can help you:
- Build confidence and communication skills
- Gain practical social media and marketing experience
- Develop content creation and digital skills
- Strengthen your CV and employability
- Build a portfolio of work
- Meet new people and work within a supportive team
- Gain experience in the charity and social enterprise sector
- Support a positive community project
This role may support progression into employment, education, apprenticeships, or further volunteering opportunities.
Any Other Information
Focus Coffee House is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for all volunteers.
We welcome applications from:
- Young people
- Students
- Neurodiverse individuals
- People with additional support needs
- Individuals returning to work or volunteering
- Anyone interested in community-focused media and communications
Volunteers will be encouraged to bring their own ideas, creativity, and interests into the role.
Hours
Volunteer hours are flexible and can be agreed based on availability and café activities.
Typical volunteering opportunities are available:
- Monday to Friday
- Between 8:00am and 3:00pm
Example volunteering sessions may include:
- 2–3 hour sessions
- Morning or afternoon shifts
- Flexible weekly commitments
- Event-based support
- Remote content scheduling time where appropriate
Both short-term and ongoing opportunities are available.
Purpose of the Role
The purpose of this role is to support the day-to-day running of Focus Coffee House while helping create a welcoming, inclusive, and community-focused environment for visitors, volunteers, and customers. Volunteers will have the opportunity to build confidence, gain practical experience, develop new skills, and contribute positively to the local community.
What You Will Be Doing
Depending on the role, tasks may include:
- Welcoming and supporting customers
- Preparing and serving food and drinks
- Supporting community activities and events
- Assisting with café operations and cleanliness
- Encouraging social interaction and reducing isolation
- Working as part of a supportive volunteer team
- Learning workplace and employability skills
Volunteers will receive guidance and support throughout their placement and tasks will be adapted to suit individual strengths, interests, and confidence levels.
Skills, Experience & Qualities Needed
No previous experience is necessary for most roles, as full training and support will be provided.
We are looking for people who are:
- Friendly and approachable
- Reliable and willing to learn
- Good team players
- Respectful and inclusive of others
- Positive and community-minded
- Interested in developing new skills and experiences
Some specialist roles may benefit from previous experience or particular interests, such as media, events, baking, digital support, or mentoring.
Focus Coffee House welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds and abilities, including people with additional support needs, neurodiverse individuals, and those returning to work or volunteering after time away.
Accessibility & Transport Information
Focus Coffee House aims to provide an inclusive and accessible volunteering environment.
Location
Focus Coffee House
9 South Burns
Chester-le-Street
DH3 3EZ
The café is located on a main bus route with good public transport links and is within walking distance of Chester-le-Street train station.
We will work with volunteers to make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to ensure placements are accessible and supportive.
When & Where
All volunteer roles are based at Focus Coffee House in Chester-le-Street.
Volunteer opportunities are available during café opening hours:
- Monday to Friday
- Between 8:00am and 3:00pm
Flexible volunteering arrangements may be available, including:
- Morning shifts
- Afternoon shifts
- Short sessions
- Weekly placements
- Flexible or supported placements
Volunteer hours can be adapted around study, caring responsibilities, health needs, or other commitments where possible.
Training, Support & Expenses
All volunteers will receive:
- Full induction and role-specific training
- Ongoing guidance and support
- Opportunities to learn new skills
- A supportive and inclusive environment
- Supervision from experienced staff and volunteers
Travel expenses can be reimbursed in line with the organisation’s volunteer expenses policy.
Volunteer Benefits
Volunteering with Focus Coffee House can help you:
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Meet new people and reduce isolation
- Gain practical work experience
- Develop employability and communication skills
- Learn hospitality and customer service skills
- Strengthen teamwork and leadership abilities
- Improve wellbeing and social connection
- Access future training and progression opportunities
- Contribute positively to your local community
Volunteering may also support progression into employment, education, apprenticeships, or further community involvement.
Any Other Information
Focus Coffee House is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone.
We encourage applications from:
- Young people
- People with disabilities or additional needs
- Neurodiverse individuals
- Carers
- People returning to work
- Individuals seeking confidence-building opportunities
- People looking to gain work experience
Some roles may require references or safeguarding checks depending on the nature of the placement.
Hours
Volunteer hours are flexible and can be agreed based on availability and the needs of the café.
Typical volunteering opportunities are available:
- Monday to Friday
- Between 8:00am and 3:00pm
Example shift patterns may include:
- 8:00am – 11:00am
- 10:00am – 1:00pm
- 12:00pm – 3:00pm
- Full-day placements where appropriate
Both short-term and longer-term volunteering opportunities are available.
