# Volunteers’ Week returns on 3-9 June – its 40th anniversary - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/03/26/volunteers-week-returns-on-3-9-june-its-40th-anniversary/ - Published: 2024-03-26T09:39:05+00:00 - Author: Melanie May **Volunteers’ Week is a UK-wide celebration led by the UK Volunteering Forum (NCVO in England) that celebrates and shines a light on the impact of volunteers, and encourages more to give it a try. During the course of the week, a programme of celebratory activities and events will bring together charities, voluntary groups, social organisations and volunteers in recognition of their contribution to society. This will include award ceremonies, coffee mornings and days out with the week culminating in [The Big Help Out](https://www.thebighelpout.org.uk/) from 7 to 9 June, where people across the UK will get the chance to experience a range of volunteer taster sessions. #### Resources for taking part The [Volunteers’ Week website](https://volunteersweek.org/) lists what’s happening across the country, and also has a host of resources [for organisations](https://volunteersweek.org/get-involved/for-organisations/) taking part. These range from ideas on what to do, advice on how to plan, publicise and run an event, information on how to manage volunteers, and a downloadable toolkit with printable cards, certificates, banners and more, plus social media templates for publicly thanking volunteers. #### UK volunteering facts * In 2021/22, 14.2 million people in the UK volunteered through a group, club or organisation at least once a year and over 8.3 million (16%) of people did so at least once a month.    * The most common reason overall for volunteering is wanting to improve things or help people (40%).    * In 2020/21 there were 163,959 voluntary organisations, most of which rely on volunteers. * The voluntary sector contributes about £20bn to the UK’s GDP. * People volunteer for a range of causes, while volunteering in the third sector is most common. Remote volunteering (volunteering online or over the phone) is the third most common ‘place’ people volunteer in. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) Sarah Vibert, CEO at [NCVO](https://www.ncvo.org.uk/#/) (the National Council for Voluntary Organisations), which coordinates Volunteers’ Week in England, said:  > “Across the country, all year round, and in a million ways, volunteers make an > enormous contribution to their communities. In the 40th year of Volunteers’ Week, > we have a chance to celebrate the impact of their tireless efforts and say a big > thank you for all they do. >   > “Now more than ever it is important to recognise those who selflessly give up > their time to help others and inspire even more people to take up a volunteering > opportunity for a cause they’re passionate about. We can’t wait to celebrate the > power volunteering has to bring communities together and be part of recognising > the immense impact they have for the people they help.” Elizabeth Henderson, Chief Volunteer of England, [Scouts](https://www.scouts.org.uk/), who are supporting this year’s Volunteers’ Week, said:  > “Across the country, all year round, and in a million ways, volunteers make an > enormous contribution to their communities. In the 40th year of Volunteers’ Week, > we have a chance to celebrate the impact of their tireless efforts and say a big > thank you for all they do. >   > “Now more than ever it is important to recognise those who selflessly give up > their time to help others and inspire even more people to take up a volunteering > opportunity for a cause they’re passionate about. We can’t wait to celebrate the > power volunteering has to bring communities together and be part of recognising > the immense impact they have for the people they help.” * **[Research on Girlguiding volunteers suggests greater levels of happiness than non-volunteers](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/06/03/research-on-girlguiding-volunteers-suggests-greater-levels-of-happiness-than-non-volunteers/)**( 3 June 2024) * **[Archbishop leads group asking party leaders to volunteer as part of Big Help Out](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/06/07/archbishop-leads-group-asking-party-leaders-to-volunteer-as-part-of-big-help-out/)**( 7 June 2024) * **[6.5mn took part in Big Help Out, poll shows](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/06/25/6-5mn-took-part-in-big-help-out-poll-shows/)**( 25 June 2024)