South Shropshire MP Philip Dunne is proud to join in commemoration of Volunteers’ Week 2023. This year, Volunteers’ Week marks its 39th anniversary (1st-7th June), honouring the remarkable contributions made by residents who generously dedicate their time and skills to support charities and voluntary organisations throughout the country.
The theme for this year's celebration is 'Celebrate and Inspire,' aiming to inspire individuals to become agents of change by engaging in volunteering activities that resonate with them.
Volunteers play an indispensable role in our communities, their efforts often going unseen and unrecognized. It is only through the extraordinary impact of their volunteering that we truly comprehend their significance. Taking the time during Volunteers' Week to honour their commitment and acknowledge the invaluable contributions they make to our local communities, the voluntary sector, and society has never been more vital.
Reflecting on the significance of volunteers in our community, Philip Dunne said
“Volunteers' Week is a tremendous opportunity to celebrate and recognise the outstanding contributions our volunteers make. Thanks to their selfless dedication, our local community has experienced profound benefits.
“I was learning this week about the remarkable success seen at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Charity from its work to engage with young people in joining their volunteers. As part of a project run by the Helpforce charity with NHS trusts, SaTH recruited 440 new volunteers and over 100 continuing volunteers all under 25 years of age during this project last year. This was the highest participation rate of any of the 13 NHS Trust who took part.
“According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data almost a third of people over 16 years old volunteered with a group, club, or organisation at least once in 2020/21. Based on ONS population estimates, this means 16.3m people formally volunteered last year with Almost one in five people reported to having volunteering at least once a month.
“Volunteers' Week is a reminder of the immeasurable impact that individuals can have when they come together to create positive change. By embracing the spirit of volunteerism, we can collectively shape a brighter future for South Shropshire”.