Volunteering at the Heart of the Community
As part of our commitment to social value, The Consortia Group was proud to spend time this week supporting a vital community resource in the North East.
While working on a project at Newcastle Central Station for our client LNER, our Marketing Manager Steph and Project Manager Joe volunteered at St Vincent’s Centre Newcastle, run by the St Vincent de Paul Society.
The centre is a hub for the local community, offering free meals, activities, and vital support services to thousands of people every month. Every Tuesday, up to 200 people attend the Vinnies’ lunch drop-in for a freshly cooked three-course meal. It includes table service and a friendly atmosphere.
Steph and Joe joined a dedicated team of volunteers preparing and serving meals under the expert guidance of Catering Supervisor Jan who runs a tight ship indeed! Our tasks included serving sausage casserole, mash and peas, dishing up desserts, washing up, and even unloading the Costco delivery van.
But it was more than just a lunch service. The team discovered the scope of the centre’s work is far-reaching. From a community market and wellbeing groups to summer holiday support for families, food banks, a free barber, and sessions specifically for refugees and asylum seekers.
Centre Manager Rebecca and Catering Supervisor Jan explained how the centre is a lifeline for many. Nearly 700 people use the centre every week, with 4,600 visits recorded in May alone.
“Every day is different,” Rebecca said. “But what stays the same is our belief that poverty should never be a barrier. Everything we offer – food, clothing, activities, support – is free of charge. Our mission is to create a safe and welcoming space for anyone who needs it.”
The centre needs to raise £360,000 every year just to keep the doors open. They rely on food donations from partners like M&S and Costco via Neighbourly, and are always in need of clothing (particularly men’s casual wear and trainers) and financial donations.
We left with huge admiration for the volunteers who show up day in and day out. Their passion, kindness, and relentless drive to support their community is humbling.
We are proud to have spent time with the team at St Vincent’s and encourage anyone in the Newcastle area to support this remarkable place in any way they can.
👉 Learn more or donate: https://svp.org.uk/st-vincents-newcastle
