Volunteering England
Now in its 26th year, Volunteers’ Week was in the first instance administered on a local level.
In order to raise the profile of the Week, the National Centre for Volunteering took over the running until 2004 when a new integrated national agency called Volunteering England was formed – together with Volunteer Development England and the Consortium on Opportunities for Volunteering.
Currently the agency is working on a wide range of projects, including the Inspiration and Legacy Project that aims to increase the number of volunteering opportunities in areas of sport, the environment and the arts, making sure that everyone who is inspired to volunteer by the Olympic and Paralympic Games has the chance to do so.
Volunteering England also works towards providing activities to support the role of volunteers in the National Health Service, and helps to develop the infrastructure for volunteering in sport, in conjunction with Sport England.
Volunteers: Inspiration and Opportunity
Volunteering opportunities can be sourced from the Volunteers’ Week website which provides inspiration for work in such diverse areas as the Justice System, Environmental Health, Defence Volunteering, Emergency Services and the Arts.
These newer choices can be found alongside the popular alternatives of working in Charity Shops, fundraising, volunteering with animals, or working within the community.
It also works with employers of businesses to run formal employer-supported volunteering programmes.
For anyone wanting to take part in Volunteers’ Week, it’s possible to register online at the website www.volunteersweek.org.uk where information, event ideas and resource packs can be downloaded.
The new logo, posters, certificates, flyers and branded merchandise are available from mid April.
Volunteers’ Week - 1st June – 7th June 2010
It takes a special kind of person to be a volunteer and often the only reward is a personal sense of achievement.
Most volunteers would say that this is more than enough, so it’s a good thing a public recognition of their endeavours takes place in Volunteers’ Week from 1st to 7th June each year – when a host of events are organised by volunteer managers and the general public to raise the profile of the growing number of people who donate their time and energy to help the community.
In 2009 more than 380 activities took place across the country, to demonstrate public appreciation in the form of Awards Evenings, tea parties, team challenges, fashion shows, sponsored walks and even pampering sessions.
Trumpet Voluntary!
As well as giving recognition, Volunteers’ Week also provides an opportunity to find out more about becoming part of the voluntary sector.
During the week, taster sessions are organised and special red buses tour the cities, encouraging new recruits to get involved in volunteering.
Recent research has shown that there has been a rise of 115% in the number of people applying for voluntary jobs as in these days of recession, more and more members of the public are recognising that the first-hand experience offered will not only benefit society, but also help with finding future employment.
Volunteering is satisfying, rewarding and a way in which to develop new skills and meet inspiring people.
But above all, Volunteers’ Week offers a chance to change things – and ensures that those who already do so are shown to be appreciated.
External Links:
Volunteers’ Week website
Volunteering England