Volunteers thanked during national celebration

People in Staffordshire are getting ready to celebrate those individuals making a real difference in local communities.

The celebrations are part of National Volunteers’ Week - a chance to recognise and say thanks to the county’s army of volunteers.

Staffordshire has thousands of volunteers making a real difference every day.  From helping out at sports clubs or supporting those people in communities that are most in need - elderly, young people, and children and families - it makes a huge difference.

Throughout June, a series of volunteer recognition events being organised by Support Staffordshire will take place across the county. 

People are also being invited to share photos of themselves volunteering on social media.

Jackie Sharpe (pictured) volunteers at Glascote library in Tamworth.  She’s one of over 700 volunteers helping out in the service.

The 68-year-old from Glascote has been volunteering at the library for eight years and loves what she does. 

Jackie said: “I really love volunteering at my local library and with so much going on, no two days are the same. 

“I get involved with a number of groups and activities including the Knit and Natter group, family history sessions and the weekly book club, as well as helping with all the usual library tasks, like dealing with loans and renewals.  It’s all great fun.

“Volunteering enriches your life whilst being a most enjoyable way of passing a few hours and knowing that you are giving something back.”

Hayley Coles, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said: “This is a great opportunity to thank and show our appreciation to the thousands of unpaid volunteers across the county.

“Volunteering is the fabric of our society and is what makes our county such a great place to live and visit.  There’s lots of great volunteering opportunities available and with 92 per cent of volunteers feeling more positive due to their volunteering, it’s a great time to get involved.”

Emma Paxton, volunteering team leader at Support Staffordshire, said: “Every day, thousands of people across Staffordshire do something quite amazing – they volunteer. 

“They may not always realise that what they do is volunteering, and they may not appreciate how amazing they are for doing it, but they keep our county going. 

“Volunteering is also a great way to boost your physical and mental wellbeing, whilst also getting to know new people and gaining new skills and confidence, but it’s not always at the front of people’s thoughts. 

“This is a great event where we celebrate and thank all these amazing volunteers as without them, Staffordshire communities wouldn’t be the vibrant, inclusive, supportive places that they are.”

Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS) have 10,333 active volunteer roles including 1,619 young volunteers under 18.

Chief executive at SCVYS, Phil Pusey, said: "When done well, volunteering is a true win-win.  For individuals, it offers significant personal benefits including enhanced well-being, skill development, increased social connections and greater confidence.

“Organisations also benefit through improved effectiveness in achieving their goals and the ability to expand the support they provide."

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Support Staffordshire on 0300 777 1207.