Volunteers’ Week is a special week earmarked to thank volunteers for all that they bring to their local communities and this year it feels more important than ever.
Celebrated every year from 1 – 7 June, it’s a week in which the UK celebrates volunteers and says thank you for the contribution that they make. It also raises awareness about the benefits of becoming a volunteer and the diverse volunteering roles that are available. This year marks the 37th year of recognising volunteers with the overarching theme for the week being Time to Say Thanks!
Saying thank you feels more important than ever as the voluntary response to coronavirus has been vital in providing services such as shopping, prescription collection or welfare calls to people that are feeling isolated and anxious.
In Bridgend County, we had over 1,500 people register as volunteers! We have truly been overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity and kindness of our local residents.
Find out about some of the amazing volunteers with Age Connects Morgannwg here ...thank you!
KPC says thank you to their volunteers….
“We would like to thank our volunteers for all for their support and commitment to KPC. “If anyone would like to volunteer with us or discuss possible roles please contact us at info@kpcyouth.com”
Health Board thanks all their volunteers supporting community vaccination centres…
“The volunteer service at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has been overwhelmed with the support from existing and newly recruited volunteers keen to support the community vaccination centres, during these difficult times.
“Our volunteers have helped with marshalling at the car parks, meet and greet and signposting those attending the centres. We are so proud of the support, dedication and care our volunteers have shown to the centres in order to keep the public safe and we cannot thank them enough.”
“When I was allocated a volunteer driver I was so relieved to help have help with my shopping and picking up prescriptions, it was better than winning a million pounds – the volunteer was amazing.”
“Absolutely brilliant don’t know how I would have managed without the volunteers to pick up my shopping and prescriptions.”
You can listen to some of our fantastic volunteers’ stories here
Our Volunteer Team helps local organisations be the best they can be through giving best practice guidance on volunteer recruitment and management, supervision, training, engagement and retention. Our regular volunteering e-bulletins are full of the latest volunteering opportunities and also provides a snapshot of opportunities for individuals.
Read our latest volunteering e-bulletin here…
Volunteers give their time, energies and skills to many aspects of life in Wales, in sports, the arts, education, health, faith-based organisations, the environment, public sectors, in the Welsh language and to a range of communities where English is a second language. Welsh villages, towns, cities, rural landscapes and the surrounding coasts and seas are improved and enhanced by volunteers that live, work, play and visit Wales.
In 2018, 28% of people living in Wales reported that they volunteered. Over the past 12 months as communities, neighbours and individuals responded to coronavirus and various lockdown formats, volunteers became involved in shopping for, and delivering food parcels, collecting and delivering items from pharmacies, providing dog walking services and being there, through providing welfare check ins and wellbeing chats to those that need them. Volunteers have raised vital funds for voluntary organisations, through a range of fundraising activities and helped share messages of public health information across social media sites.
The interest, awareness and appreciation for volunteering continues to grow, which make this a great time to ensure your organisation is visible to prospective volunteers, even if your volunteer recruitment is currently on hold.
For further details, contact Sharon Headon at BAVO, T: 01656 810400 or E: volunteering@bavo.org.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!
