This year celebrating its 40^th anniversary, Volunteers’ Week will take place Monday 3 June to Sunday 9 June 2024.

Volunteers’ Week is about celebrating and thanking those who give up their time to make a difference. Whether you’re part of a voluntary organisation or a volunteer yourself, here’s how to make your week as great as possible.

VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

Organisations can get involved with Volunteers’ Week in many ways, getting involved with the local community and celebrating those who give their time.

• Show your appreciation and thank your volunteers through social media to publicly celebrate the work they do
• Recognise your volunteers with certificates and thank you cards, or gifts
• Host a face-to-face or online event. There are several ideas to ‘get inspired’ on the Volunteers’ Week website from a curry and quiz night to a day at the farm or hosting a scarecrow festival!
• Use Volunteers’ Week as a platform to launch or promote a new volunteering project

Useful guidance and downloadable resources (in English and Welsh) are available on the Volunteers’ Week website to help you get the most out of the week. You can also sign up for email updates and stay informed about the latest Volunteers’ Week news and information.

VOLUNTEERS

There are two main ways volunteers can get involved in Volunteers’ Week, whether you’re already volunteering or want to start your journey.

• Share your volunteering story telling others about what volunteering means to you and how it impacts others. Whether it’s the feel-good factor or gaining new skills and experiences. Share your story in social media using the hashtag #VolunteersWeek.
• If you’re interested in volunteering for the first time or trying something new then check out the becoming a volunteer page. Here you’ll also find information on The Big Help Out

REFLECTIONS FROM THE LAST VOLUNTEERS’ WEEK

WCVA asked the Volunteering Wales Network for things they wish they had thought of, and their suggestions for high impact, low cost options to help celebrate Volunteers week. Here are a few of their thoughts.

I wish I’d thought of…

• Sending out ‘treat packs’ to attendees of online celebration events in advance – then they can be used interactively during the event
• Cook along with volunteers – gets volunteers involved and teaches new skills
• Cupcake drops to say thank you to your volunteers
• Work in partnership with other organisations – double the hands, half the planning!

High impact, low cost

• Use social media to share first hand experiences through volunteer videos and testimonials
• Share profiles of volunteers, including quotes, throughout Volunteers’ Week through social media and newsletters
• Wellbeing walks with a refreshment venue at the end so those unable to participate can still be involved
• Use reels on Instagram and Facebook to bring testimonials to life
• Match volunteers to their interests for a better impact and more sustainable volunteering experience

RESOURCES

There are brand new resources to help you mark 40 years of Volunteers’ Week:

• Brand and logo packs, including guidelines and logo and sticker packs to support communications for Volunteers’ Week
• Information on how to style your events, including downloadable banners, bunting and photo props for printing
• Certificate and thank you card templates to say show gratitude to your volunteers for their contributions
• Social media content, including graphics, selfie photo frames and photo message cards

MORE ON VOLUNTEER’S WEEK

For more information on Volunteers’ Week 2024: volunteersweek.org.

The Big Help Out campaign will also take place during the week from Friday 7 June to Sunday 9 June 2024: www.thebighelpout.org.uk.