Volunteers week

Volunteers are central to the work of countless charities and other organisations across Staffordshire. They are a valuable presence in many communities, making a difference in places as diverse as sports clubs, libraries, schools and hospitals.

Hundreds of events take place across the country to mark Volunteers' Week (1-7 June each year) to thank their volunteers and celebrate the power of volunteering to bring communities together.  The annual campaign, which was established in 1984, recognises the contribution volunteers make to our communities every day.

For many charities the week will also be a chance to showcase the range of volunteering opportunities on offer. Volunteer fairs and other events will encourage people to try volunteering for the first time and help people find out how through volunteering they can make a difference to a cause they are passionate about.

Let us know how you plan to celebrate Volunteers' Week 2021 by emailing us at volunteering@supportstaffordshire.org.uk.

Volunteering facts

• In 2015, volunteering output contributed an estimated £22.6bn to the UK economy. This is equivalent to approximately 1.2% of GDP
• In 2016/17, 19.8 million (37%) people in the UK volunteered formally at least once a year and 11.9 million (22%) of people did so at least once a month
• There are 165,801 voluntary organisations in the UK, many of whom rely on volunteers.
• Lots of volunteering also takes place within the public and private sector. For example, there are an estimated 3 million people volunteering in health and care.

For more statistics visit https://data.ncvo.org.uk/a/almanac17/volunteering-overview/