It's time to celebrate Volunteers' Week 2025

Volunteers

It’s Volunteers’ Week – our favourite week of the year.

Let’s kick off the celebration by meeting Rachel and Ralph, volunteers at Thirsk Community Library.

 

Celebrating volunteers across North Yorkshire and the difference they make to charities and communities happens all year round. But Volunteers’ Week (2 – 8 June) gives us an even bigger excuse to shout about our volunteering community.

For this year’s annual campaign, we’re focussing on the value of volunteering.

Did you know:
  • That 14.2 million people in the UK have formally volunteered at least once a month?
  • That volunteering added £4.6 billion in productivity gains to the UK economy in 2024?

We’re celebrating the impact of volunteers and encouraging everyone to get involved – in whatever way works for them.

Volunteers are the backbone of most charities and community groups in North Yorkshire. Whether you’re a charity or community group looking for volunteers, or someone looking to start volunteering…

…we’re here to support you with the tools, resources, and inspiration you need.

What’s on

There’s plenty of ways to get involved with celebrating your volunteers.

  • At our Volunteer Coordinators Network meeting on 12 June (at Colburn Hub and Community Café) we’ll be celebrating the amazing impact that volunteers have. Book your place here.
  • Our in-person Managing Volunteers training at the Goosecroft Centre in Northallerton will explore what makes an effective volunteer manager or coordinator, and the responsibilities that the role brings (18 September, 10am-4:30pm). Book now.
  • Fancy a bit of a chat about all things volunteering? Our Volunteer Views and Brews on 17 July is the (virtual) place for you. For volunteers who lead other volunteers including trustees and directors, book your place.

Be inspired

Volunteers and volunteer coordinators across North Yorkshire have told us what they love about their roles. Take a look at what they have to say:

  • Hear from green-fingered Zoe Jepson, Volunteers Coordinator at Ripon Walled Garden.
  • Leo Thai shares how becoming a volunteer at WHISH changed his future, leading to a new job in new field of work that he loves.
  • For Catherine Skyvington, Library Supervisor at Harrogate Library, it’s the perfect combination of managing volunteers and books that she enjoys about her role.
  • Being involved with her community is what Nige Ballard loves about being a trustee at her local village hall.
  • Ann Ferguson shares how her volunteer role at Ryedale Carers Support took her on a journey to become their Chief Executive.

Want to help inspire others by sharing your volunteering story via a blog or podcast? Drop us an email at marcomms@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

Online support

Here are just some of our tips and resources for Volunteer Involving Organisations:

Whatever you’re doing, we’d love to share your #VolunteersWeek stories and celebrations across our social media. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Further support for Volunteer Involving Organisations

  • New enquiries – if you need support with any aspect of volunteer management please complete this quick form and one of our developments officer will be in touch to support you.
  • If you have any further questions or need support with any aspect of volunteering, please do get in touch communitysupport@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.