Volunteers' Week 2023

2023 marks the 39th year of Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), when Creative Living Centre will join thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK. With this year’s theme of ‘Celebrate and Inspire’ we hope to encourage people to be the change that we want to see and get involved in volunteering in whatever way works for them.

The contribution of volunteers is often unseen and unrecognised by many, visible only through the incredible impact of their volunteering, so taking the time during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate their efforts and all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector and society as a whole has never been more important.

This Volunteers’ Week Creative Living Centre will be celebrating their volunteers, by posting celebration and inspiration stories on some of our volunteers on social media/website, going out for a group meal, giving out some gifts and recognition of the huge amount that volunteers give to CLC.

“Here at Creative Living Centre, we will be celebrating our volunteers’ contribution of time and support and so much more to the service. We couldn’t do what we do without them and Volunteers’ week is a chance to recognise the fantastic work our volunteers do in helping support our members and staff. We have 16 current volunteers and more on the way, they help with many of our groups including walking group, bike group and art group. They also help run our social spaces such as warm hub and lunch service. Alongside this we also have co tutor trained volunteers who help support delivery of well being workshops. Our peer mentor trained volunteers support our members with a specific request over a 6-week period to help them achieve their goal.
Our members hugely appreciate and value the support of our volunteers, making a brew, having a chat and contributing to their positive outcomes.”
- Tom Wild – Take Part Coordinator
​Volunteering Stats During 2020 (UK Civil Society Almanac 2022)

• ​16.3m people volunteered through a group, club or organisation in 2020/21.
• Levels of formal volunteering fell significantly from 2019/20 to in 2020/21.
• More than a quarter of the population were regularly involved in informal volunteering and about half did so at least once in 2020/21.
• Most people have formally volunteered at some point in their lives, dipping in and out of involvement over time.
• People volunteer in different ways, reflecting their lifestyles, values and priorities. The way they get involved has changed during the pandemic.