NATIONAL Volunteer Week takes place from June 1-12, and one local charity is calling for your help.

Northumbria Blood Bikes is a registered charity which transports blood and urgent medical supplies throughout the North-East of England.

The charity is run entirely by volunteers and relies on people to become riders, drivers, fund-raisers, co-ordinators and speakers.

Northumbria Blood Bikes also deliver ‘blood on board’ to the Great North Air Ambulance every night.

Debbie Paton from Prudhoe joined Northumbria Blood Bikes in October, 2015.

Her main role is as a co-ordinator and she is the first contact for someone who has volunteered, as she looks after the training. She has also recently qualified as a driver.

Being a volunteer for Northumbria Blood Bikes can fit in to your weekly routine. Debbie works full time and volunteers on Friday nights and weekends.

“Doing a Friday night fits in well with me as my husband does a night shift,” she said.

“It also means any trainees can shadow me and I’m there to support them on weekends. Any admin or correspondence I do in association with my training role, I can fit in during the week.”

The rewards from volunteering with Northumbria Blood Bank are endless.

Debbie said the best part of being a volunteer is the camaraderie.

She added: “One of the best memories I have is the buzz around last Boxing Day when it was an all-girl shift for the first time ever in any blood bank group.

“The girls just took control and, considering there aren’t many of us, we managed to complete a full shift.”

One of the most rewarding things for Debbie is knowing who the deliveries have gone to help.

After her first shift, she found out the blood she had delivered was used at the scene of a road traffic accident and another had been used for a six week old baby with suspected meningitis.

Debbie said: “There are so many ways you can help and it can be so rewarding.

“It’s not just about riding a motorbike, you meet some interesting people who will do anything for anyone. It’s very humbling.”

Northumbria Blood Bikes is in operation 365 days a year.

The charity has been fully operational for two years and has covered around 7,000 jobs in that time.

For more information visit www.northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk