Volunteers’ Week 2022 is running between 1–7th June and Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) are asking local organisations to get involved. Now in its 38th year, Volunteers’ Week is a UK wide celebration of volunteering with thousands of charities and voluntary groups thanking volunteers for the time, talents, and huge difference they make. Last year over 600 Volunteers’ Week events took place across the UK including thank you tea parties and barbecues, and organisations promoted volunteer roles such as gardeners, befrienders, shop helpers, dog walkers, and committee members.
VAO would love to hear from groups planning Volunteers’ Week 2022 activities and have some ideas and resources to help. You could organise a Big Lunch thank you for your volunteers, post a message on your social media using the special templates on the Volunteers Week 2022 website or you could email a thank you certificate to each of your volunteers_
For Volunteers’ Week this year VAO will be featuring a window display and webpage of volunteer stars from around the county and are asking organisations to get involved in this to celebrate that Orkney’s got volunteering talent! Organisations can thank groups or specific individuals - the more stars the merrier. All VAO need is the name of your organisation, what your volunteers do and a photo/image - they will do the rest. VAO can also promote any volunteering opportunities for organisations on their website and social media pages.
Volunteering in Orkney has never been so important. The profile of volunteering has been raised in recent years especially due to the pandemic and more people than ever are aware of the immense contribution being made every single day by volunteers.
VAO’s Chief Executive, Gail Anderson said:
“Orkney would not be such a strong, vibrant community without the on-going commitment of local people of all ages who so generously donate their time, talents, and enthusiasm to a variety of activities. The contribution made by volunteers during the pandemic was essential in ensuring the most vulnerable in our community were supported. Volunteers Week provides an opportunity for us all to celebrate our local volunteers and to say “thank you”
Sam Stringer, VAO Volunteer Development Worker said:
“We have been delighted at Voluntary Action Orkney to see volunteering opportunities reopening across Orkney this year and new folk have been getting in touch offering to volunteer. Volunteer help is invaluable to local organisations who continue to face many challenges and changes, and volunteers enable vital community groups and services to keep going. Volunteering offers great benefits to each volunteer too, as they can learn new skills, meet new people, build up confidence and gain valuable work experience to apply for paid work.”
To get involved in Volunteers’ Week contact volunteering@vaorkney.org.uk or cal 01856 872 897 (option 1).
