Volunteers’ Week: A time to say Thank You

Volunteer Centre Western Isles marks Volunteers’ Week 2022!

2022 marks the 38th year of Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), when Volunteer Centre Western Isles will join thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK and thanking them for all they do. The contribution of volunteers is often unseen and unrecognised by many, visible only through the incredible impact of their volunteering. However, the coronavirus pandemic has rightly raised the profile of volunteering and more people than ever are aware of the immense contribution being made every single day by volunteers across the UK.  

This Volunteers’ Week, Volunteer Centre Western and partners in the Third Sector Interface Western Isles will be thanking and celebrating their volunteers, by providing thank you cards, certificates and other resources to local groups and charities to help them say thank you and also hosting small celebrations throughout the islands. Local organisations are encouraged to use social media throughout the week to recognise and thank their volunteers and celebrate the impact they make, using the hashtags #VolunteersWeekScot #VolunteerWI 

Suzanne Macaulay, Manager, Volunteer Centre Western Isles said: “Volunteers' Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the fantastic contribution our volunteers make. We have amazing volunteers throughout the islands who provide essential support in our communities, from church groups to sports, emergency responses, older peoples groups and youth clubs – we are thankful for all the time they volunteer. We are encouraging all groups and organisations who involve volunteers to say ‘thank you’ this Volunteers Week.”  

Volunteer Scotland Chief Executive, Alan Stevenson said: “Volunteers’ Week is a time to thank every volunteer across the UK. Volunteers improve our society through countless contributions each year and at time of crisis, they make our services more resilient.

“Within every local community, volunteering takes place formally, through the incredible work of organisations and groups but also informally through acts of kindness, between individuals (who are not friends and family). We must recognise the wide spectrum of volunteering. As we emerge from the pandemic and return, we should still be mindful of those who’ve been unable to volunteer, or volunteer as regularly, and be especially mindful of those who may still be anxious about resuming. Thank you all, for your volunteering.” 

For information on volunteering and ideas on how say thank you to your volunteers, visit www.volunteercentrewi.org  email info@volunteercentrewi.org or phone 01851700366. 

For advice on support for the Third Sector, including funding and governance support, visit www.tsiwi.org