It’s 3 weeks till Volunteers’ Week – Time to get planning!

It’s 3 weeks until Volunteers’ Week, a national celebration of all things volunteering.

From the 2nd till 8th June, there is the opportunity to do something special for your volunteers to say thank you. So let’s get thinking about how you will say thanks, celebrating and recognising everything your volunteers’ do!

“Volunteers’ Week fosters connections between national organisations and grassroots groups, celebrating the spirit of volunteering that enriches communities each year” – Volunteers’ Week

Why not get thinking about how YOU are going to celebrate your Volunteers!

There are many ways that you can celebrate your volunteers, with a range of creative ideas below. It is important though to really consider your own volunteers, and celebrate them in a way that they would enjoy!

✨Free volunteer celebration events✨

Come along to Dudley CVS’s week of free celebrations, including a Volunteer Fair, celebration of outdoor volunteers at Stevens Park, and ‘Dudley’s Big Volunteer Thank You’ event. Across these events, there will be free tea, coffee and cake, opportunities to meet other volunteers and volunteer-involving groups, free volunteer goodie bags and a range of free activities!

✨Spotlight your volunteers – We want to hear from you! ✨

Why not shout about all the great things your volunteers do? This could be through a spotlight of one, or all, of your volunteers, or sharing a volunteer story that has really made a difference to your organisation. Share these spotlights or stories across your social media, website or any other type of media you may have. Don’t forget to use the range of free social media resources and the #VolunteersWeek too!

Dudley CVS will be spotlighting volunteers on our social media and website all week! We would love to hear from you about what volunteering means to you, an inspirational volunteer story you may have, or spotlighting a volunteer for making a difference!

✨Get involved✨

There is also a range of ways you can get involved and celebrate your volunteers. From hosting appreciation events, such as a coffee morning, afternoon tea or an awards ceremony, to giving your volunteers certificates, thank you cards or badges. You can also do things a little differently, like planting a tree in honour of your volunteers, present a client-nominated certificate or award, or nominate your volunteer group for national awards, such as the Kings Award for Voluntary Service.

There is also a range of free Volunteers’ Week resources to help you below, as well as other ways to get involved:

• Volunteers’ Week
• Royal Voluntary Service – Volunteers’ Week
• Healthwatch – Volunteers’ Week Ideas
• Baudeville (American organisation, who have been an integral part of recognition programs and practices in organisations across the country for over 40 years) – Volunteer Appreciate Ideas

Let’s get creative to highlight the diverse volunteer community, inspire positive change and celebrate National Volunteers’ Week together!