International Volunteers Day

This day is a United Nations day. It helps to mobilise volunteers and celebrate how they make a difference locally, nationally and globally. It’s celebrates the role that volunteers play in communities and societies their communities and to recognised their shared values and contributions.

Who celebrates?

Everyone – it’s a national awareness day.

How do people celebrate?

People and organisations celebrate by recognising the contribution that volunteers make to their work, honouring role models and ensuring they receive recognition.

People also celebrate with parades, volunteer fairs, fundraising workshops and volunteer recognition events.

What should I know?

• 1 in 5 people in employment volunteer regularly
• 19.4 million people volunteered in the UK between 2018-2019
• In 2015 the value of formal volunteering was £22.6bn
• The Government’s Community Life survey found that Black people were the most likely to volunteer in the UK in 2019.

How can I support others?

• Volunteer! Volunteering in a different organisation is a great way to build your network, improve your wellbeing and improve the volunteering in your own organisation
• Thank and celebrate the volunteers you work with
• Share the volunteering opportunities at your organisation with your network
• Share stories of diverse volunteer experiences internally and externally
• Discuss the diversity of your volunteers with your team and what more can be done to increase diversity in your area.

NVCO’s volunteering facts: https://data.ncvo.org.uk/volunteering/#:~:text=Over%20a%20third%20(36%25),formally%20volunteered%20during%20that%20year.

Time Well Spent report: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/images/documents/policy_and_research/volunteering/Volunteer-experience_Full-Report.pdf