Archive for June 1st, 2012
Volunteers’ Week
Today marked the start of Volunteers’ Week, here in the UK. Every year more than 20 million people across the UK give a total of more than 100 million hours per week of their time to the community, which is reckoned to be worth in excess of £40 billion to the economy.
Services that wouldn’t exist without volunteers include the NHS, the Coastguard Rescue Service (3,500 volunteers), the Mountain and Cave Rescue Service (3,500 volunteers in England and Wales), Natural England (2,200 volunteer wardens), the judiciary (30,000 volunteer magistrates in England and Wales) and the police (over 15,000 Special Constables).
And during 2012 volunteering is becoming even more prominent, with 70,000 Games Makers, 8,000 London Ambassadors and many others who will be involved in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tens of thousands will also be participating in community activities centred on the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. A special Jubilee Hour initiative will be highlighting the value of volunteering, and encouraging people to donate an hour of their time to help others – either through an organisation, or on a personal basis.
But volunteering is important, not just for the contributions made to activities, but also because it builds cooperation and trust between individuals, and helps bind communities, making them better places to live and work.
Check here for details of the many events taking place around the country during this week.
