National Volunteers Week & Volunteer Recruitment Event

Next week, from Monday 3rd June to Sunday 9th June, is National Volunteers Week, an annual celebration of volunteers and volunteering, and 2024 happens to also be the 40th anniversary of this special week of awareness.

A lot has changed since 1984, but one thing that remains the same is local groups, projects, and initiatives needing people from the community to chip in and help. So with that in mind we’ll be hosting a Volunteer Recruitment event at St Nicholas’ Arcade on Friday 7th June, from 12 noon until 2.30pm.

The event is a drop in, so you can pop along any time between 12 and 2.30 and you will have a chance to speak directly with representatives of various local community organisations about how you can support them. You will also be able to speak with the Volunteer Centre team about volunteering in general, so if you are looking for a particular kind of volunteering opportunity there will be someone on hand to help you find it.

Volunteering has been proven to improve mood, mental and physical wellbeing, social connection, confidence, skills, and even prospects in finding paid work. The range of opportunities is huge, from obvious things like helping in a charity shop to less obvious stuff like supporting a maritime festival in Morecambe. There truly is something for everyone, regardless of your past experience or skill level.

Volunteering is flexible, supportive, and fun! Have a car and enjoy driving? You could help people who struggle to use public transport get out and about with the Community Cars scheme. Love chatting to people? Why not sign up as a befriender with Bay Volunteers or Lancashire Volunteer Partnership? Perhaps you have a more strategic brain or a background in management – many organisations across our district would welcome you as a new trustee, maybe even chairperson!

Our event on Friday 7th June is a fuss-free, no commitment affair where you can ask questions and just find out, so please do come along for a chat. In fact, bring a friend! You might know someone who would really enjoy or benefit from doing some volunteering and this is an ideal opportunity to help them find out more.

So whether you’re looking for something to do, hoping to make new friends, building your CV, or you’re interested in volunteering for any other reason, come and chat! We look forward to seeing you there.