Volunteers' Week 2009

Rewarding, recognising and recruiting volunteers

Volunteers' Week Newsletter

Volunteers' Week is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009. This annual awareness week celebrates volunteers and volunteering. With more than 22 million people throughout the UK donating their time and effort in one way or another every year, this week is used to recognise their valued contribution to society as well as encouraging others to consider getting involved.

Click here to view the online version of the newsletter

It's on its way

Volunteers’ Week is nearly here and with just over two weeks until celebrations begin around the country now is the time to think about how you can make the most of your plans for the week.

As you continue to prepare your activities and celebrations remember to upload your events onto the Volunteers’ Week event finder. This is a great way to promote your event and an opportunity to recruit new volunteers. 

Corporate sponsor announced

We are pleased to announce that National Grid has become the official corporate sponsor of Volunteers’ Week in 2009.
Given this year is the 25th anniversary of the week, we are very excited to have their support in recognising the importance of volunteers and volunteering.

National Grid is highly supportive of volunteering through its community involvement programme supporting employees, supporting communities.

They do this through a number of ways including volunteering initiatives, fundraising and education programmes. To learn more about National Grid’s community work visit their website. 

Celebrating the week

Due to the popularity of this year's Volunteers' Week merchandise we have extended the deadline for orders. Please complete all orders before 20 May to ensure that they reach you in time for your activities and events.

There are still some great items available to not only help brand your event but also recognise your volunteers. Amongst our range of merchandise we still have some limited edition 25th anniversary plaques, commemorative badges, stickers and pens available for purchase.

Make sure you don’t miss out on these great items by getting your order in online now.

The changing faces of volunteering

As you are all aware we are really keen to challenge the perceptions of volunteering for the 25th anniversary of the week.

We thank all of you who have already provided their personal volunteering story however we know there are many more stories out there still to be told.

So to share your personal volunteering experience just log onto the Volunteers’ Week website and visit the share your story page to tell us about your volunteer role.

Alternatively, if you would like to thank a volunteer, you can also leave a message in this section of the website. This is a great way to recognise the work of volunteers throughout the country.

Spread the word

If you have not already highlighted Volunteers’ Week to your members, staff and volunteers we have a number of tools to help you do this.

The logo, free downloadable posters and thank you certificates can all be accessed from the registered users’ area of the website. All you or your colleagues have to do is register for easy, instant access. There is also a media kit available to help promote your event.

News from Northern Ireland

Organisations across Northern Ireland are busily putting together their plans for Volunteers’ Week. Upcoming events include:

• a volunteering open day at the Ulster Cancer Foundation on 2 June
• a volunteer presentation evening at the British Red Cross on 4 June
• a mentor coffee morning, young business showcase events and the annual Baronscourt Clay Pigeon Shoot fundraising event for the Prince’s Trust throughout the week; and
• the Donard Blazing Trail, organised by Hostelling International NI – a fundraising trek at Slieve Donard, the highest peak in Northern Ireland.

Make sure you register your events online at the Volunteers’ Week website and by emailing your Northern Ireland events to joanne@volunteering-ni.org.

Volunteers’ Week merchandise has also been made available by the Northern Ireland Agency for its members (in Northern Ireland only). Click here to download the order form.

For further information on Volunteers’ Week in Northern Ireland or to apply for membership of the Agency visit their website.

Events in Scotland

Events throughout Scotland have been organised to celebrate Volunteers’ Week. Dumfries and Galloway Volunteer Centre are organising Volunteers' Week certificate ceremonies in the four main areas of the region, as well as VIP volunteering for local MSPs, MPs and councillors.

In the Stewartry area and in partnership with Stewartry Community Learning & Development, a Celebration of Achievement ceremony is taking place. This will take the form of presentation of Volunteers' Week certificates, and a 1984 fashion show. Local young people will be the models for the event and have taken on the role of organising the photos and marketing the event. The Achievement Awards will follow this event. Awards will include:
• Young Achiever (Aged 16 to 25)
• Outstanding Group 
• Achievement through Learning
• Exceptional support from a mentor
• Achievement through volunteering
• Work Based Achiever
• Outstanding Contribution for Services to the Community.

Home Link, a befriending organisation, will be holding an awards ceremony for volunteers at Edinburgh Zoo on Sunday 14 June.  All volunteers are invited to bring a guest and will receive an award along with refreshments and free access to the zoo. They will also be holding a display at a local library over Volunteers' Week to raise awareness of Home Link and the week.

An initiative of Volunteering England, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Volunteer Development Agency (Northern Ireland) and Volunteer Development Scotland, the week will focus on rewarding, recognising and recruiting volunteers.