Meet Rachelle: GAVO’s Youth Volunteer Officer in Newport

Rachelle Pawley joined the Newport team at GAVO in 2025 as Youth Volunteer Officer, supporting young people and third sector organisations across the city to develop and access meaningful volunteering opportunities.

Rachelle’s role focuses on promoting youth volunteering as a positive pathway for personal development, wellbeing, and future opportunities. She works closely with schools, youth groups, community organisations, and partners to raise awareness of volunteering opportunities and to support organisations to become more youth‑friendly. A key part of her work is helping organisations create inclusive volunteering roles that enable young people to build confidence, develop skills, and gain valuable experience.

Before joining GAVO, Rachelle worked for the NHS for a number of years, followed by a role as an Operations Manager within a charity. Through this experience across public, private, and third sector organisations, she has developed a strong understanding of how different sectors operate and how effective collaboration can support communities.

Rachelle is particularly motivated by supporting young people to grow in confidence, improve their mental wellbeing, and develop skills that can open doors to future education, training, and employment. She is passionate about promoting volunteering as a way for young people to gain practical experience, develop communication and teamwork skills, and explore potential career pathways.

Outside of her role at GAVO, Rachelle volunteers with FreeBikes4Kids, a family charity that provides refurbished bikes to children and young people. She supports the charity through administrative and behind‑the‑scenes work, helping the organisation reach more families and make a positive difference within the community.

In her role at GAVO, Rachelle works closely with third sector organisations, community groups, youth‑focused services, and local partners across Newport. She also supports schools by working directly with young people to raise awareness of the third sector and the wide range of organisations they can engage with through volunteering.

Rachelle provides guidance and support to organisations looking to develop youth volunteering opportunities, helping them to engage and support young volunteers and promote opportunities effectively. She is also keen to strengthen partnerships and encourage collaborative working to create sustainable and meaningful opportunities for young people.

Since joining GAVO, Rachelle has enjoyed learning about the wide range of third sector organisations across Newport and the positive impact they have within communities. She has been encouraged by the strong culture of collaboration and the range of funding opportunities that help organisations innovate, grow, and sustain their services.

Rachelle is keen to continue raising awareness of GAVO, expanding youth volunteering opportunities, and strengthening connections across Newport’s third sector. She hopes her work will support young people to gain skills, confidence, and experience, while helping organisations involve young people in ways that benefit both individuals and the wider community.

If you would like to connect with Rachelle to discuss youth volunteering opportunities or collaborative working, she would be happy to hear from you:

Contact: Rachelle Pawley, Youth Volunteer Officer Newport

📧 rachelle.pawley@gavo.org.uk