What is Volunteers Week?
A time to say thanks!
Volunteers’ Week takes place in June every year and in 2024 is taking place from Monday 3rd June to Sunday 9th June. It’s a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to our communities and say thank you. Volunteers’ Week is supported and celebrated by small grassroots organisations as well as larger, household-name charities, who together run hundreds of activities across the UK. These activities showcase and celebrate volunteers and the contribution volunteering makes in our communities.
Volunteers’ Week 2024 is a time to say thanks. Volunteers’ Week was first established in 1984, by what was then known as Volunteering England. This year the event is celebrating the 40th anniversary with lot’s happening across the week from open days to celebration events, every year hundreds of online and in-person activities take place across the UK to mark Volunteers’ Week and celebrate volunteers.
This year Volunteers’ Week will culminate in The Big Help Out, from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th June, where people across the UK will get the chance to experience a range of volunteer taster sessions.
Why Volunteer?
Depending on your interests, the skills you have or the skills you wish to develop there are various opportunities available. As well as giving you the tools to enhance your volunteering experience, completed training courses as part of your volunteering role can all be used to enhance your C.V.
Research led by What Works Wellbeing shows that volunteering is associated with higher levels of wellbeing, better general health and fewer mental health problems. The socialisation that comes from volunteering in groups and with other people is beneficial, similar to taking part in sport. The sense of purpose that you gain from volunteering may also be a contributing factor. The report gives a much deeper look into volunteering and wellbeing.
The Royal Voluntary Service also did some research among their own volunteers and discovered that 91% felt a sense of purpose thanks to their volunteer activities. They also found that many experienced an improved sense of wellbeing having started volunteering for the first time.
So not only does volunteering give you the opportunity to develop personal and professional skills, meet new people, try new things, give you a chance to get out of the house and into your community, it also has a positive impact on our wellbeing.
Five Ways to Wellbeing
Volunteering can also be closely linked to the Five Ways to Wellbeing. The 5 Ways to wellbeing are five daily actions, which when incorporated into your daily life have been show to make a real difference to your wellbeing. The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are:
- Connect
- Be Active
- Take Notice
- Keep Learning
- Give
‘Give’ is the main action being completed through volunteering as you are ‘giving’ your time or skills to help support a service or group. However, through volunteering you may also Be Active, Take Notice, Connect and Keep Learning. This is because volunteering opportunities can often come with new training to increase your skills and through your role you may be active and on your feet, or you may travel to get to the place where you volunteer. You will also be taking notice of new things while volunteering and connecting with new people.
While your volunteering role may not help you to complete all of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, it can certainly help you on your way and get you improving your wellbeing.
