Meet Sam – GAVO’s Adult Volunteering Officer in Newport

At GAVO, our team is driven by a shared commitment to supporting communities and strengthening the voluntary sector across Gwent. In this latest staff spotlight, we’re introducing Sam Sims, our Adult Volunteering Officer for Newport, whose passion for connecting people and championing inclusive opportunities sits at the heart of his work.

Supporting volunteers and strengthening organisations

Sam joined GAVO in August 2022 and works across the Newport team supporting both individuals and organisations to make the most of volunteering. His role is varied and people focused, ranging from helping residents find meaningful volunteering opportunities to supporting community groups and charities to become “volunteer ready.”

A key part of Sam’s work involves getting to know people. their interests, motivations and goals, then matching them with volunteering roles where they can thrive. Alongside this, he works closely with organisations to strengthen their volunteering offer, helping them to develop policies, improve processes, and attract and retain volunteers.

Sam also plays an important role in promoting opportunities and connecting businesses with community groups through corporate volunteering, helping bring extra capacity and energy to local projects.

A background in supporting people

Before joining GAVO, Sam spent 15 years working in autism services, including roles within the NHS. His experience includes developing occupational therapy interventions, delivering group sessions, and supporting individuals on a one-to-one basis following diagnosis.

This background continues to shape his approach today, with a strong emphasis on person centred and strengths based working. Sam is a passionate advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, and believes that everyone has something valuable to contribute to their community.

Building connections across Newport

Sam works with a wide range of partners, from local residents and voluntary groups to public sector organisations including Newport City Council, the health board, Careers Wales and the DWP. Through these partnerships, he helps to strengthen connections across the sector and increase access to volunteering opportunities.

One of the things Sam most enjoys about his role is discovering the incredible work happening across Newport. He describes the city as a “melting pot” of cultures and experiences, and values the strong sense of pride and passion shown by volunteers and community groups.

The impact of volunteering

For Sam, volunteering is about more than filling roles, it’s about changing lives. He recalls supporting someone through a difficult time by helping them access a volunteering opportunity that built their confidence and ultimately led to employment and new personal relationships.

“Volunteering truly has the power to change lives,” he says, highlighting the far-reaching impact even small actions can have.

Looking ahead

Over the coming year, Sam is keen to strengthen support for organisations by gaining a clearer understanding of their volunteering needs. Plans include launching a survey to identify skills gaps and opportunities for collaboration, as well as introducing regular volunteering “surgeries” to connect organisations with skilled volunteers.

Through this work, Sam hopes to increase volunteering across Newport, helping groups build capacity, deliver services sustainably, and create more opportunities for people to develop skills, meet others, and improve their wellbeing.

Beyond the day job

Outside of work, Sam is a volunteer himself. Alongside his family, he runs a free Lego club that supports families to connect, build friendships and create a welcoming space for people to express themselves.

When he’s not volunteering, you might find him enjoying time with his family, collecting records, or “jumping around like a 16-year-old at punk gigs.”

✅ Want to get involved in volunteering or learn more?Get in touch with Sam Sims at sam.sims@gavo.org.uk or explore current opportunities via GAVO’s Volunteering page.

Volunteering page