VOLUNTEERS will be pounding Darlington town centre's streets to encourage people to give their time to a range of North-East charities.

evolution, an organisation promoting communities and the voluntary sector, is hosting the Meet The Volunteers day tomorrow, as part of Volunteer Week 2011, a national campaign which runs until Tuesday.

Charities from across the region will be handing out leaflets and urging people to donate their skills and time for the community, as well as giving advice and insight into the benefits of volunteering.

Lynn Watson, volunteer centre co-ordinator at evolution, said: "We are hoping that there are going to be lots of volunteers turning up because the benefit to the local community is amazing."

Volunteer Week 2011 starts with a mobile phone workshop given by Orange at evolution's office in Church Row, where people can call for advice on basic knowledge or tutorials on how to save money on their bills.

Other events include a charity supermarket bag back, and litter picking. There will also be a promotional stand in the town centre providing volunteer information.

Karen Grundy, executive director of evolution, said: "There are approximately 500 charities in Darlington, of which the majority of them utilise volunteers, and it's vital that we raise awareness.

"I encourage anyone who is interested to come along and attend the events; volunteering can be a very enriching process that also looks very good on a person's resume."

For more information on events and volunteering, contact evolution on 01325266888 or visit evolution darlington.com/