Volunteer Awareness Week is an opportunity to recognise the thousands of people across Derbyshire who give their time, skills and energy to help others.
Behind every community event, support group, charity project, food bank, wellbeing session, youth activity and community space, there are volunteers helping make it happen. Their contribution strengthens communities, supports local organisations and improves lives every day.
At Derbyshire Voluntary Action, we see the impact of volunteering first-hand.
Many of the projects and initiatives we support rely on volunteers. From helping people feel less isolated through community activities, to supporting mental health and wellbeing projects, to bringing communities together through events and local groups, volunteers are often the driving force behind positive change.
Volunteering doesn’t just benefit communities—it benefits volunteers too.
People volunteer for many reasons:
To meet new people and build friendships
To gain skills and confidence
To improve their wellbeing and sense of purpose
To give back to their community
To support causes they care about
Our recent work with community organisations across Derbyshire has repeatedly highlighted the importance of volunteers. They help organisations reach more people, deliver more services and create stronger connections within communities, and are needed now more than ever.
We also know that many organisations are facing challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers. Volunteer Awareness Week is therefore not only a time to celebrate existing volunteers, but also an opportunity to encourage new people to get involved.
Whether you can spare a few hours a month or a few hours a week, there are organisations across Derbyshire looking for people with a wide range of skills and experiences.
To all volunteers across Derbyshire: thank you.
Your commitment, compassion and generosity help create healthier, stronger and more connected communities.
And to organisations looking for volunteers: tell us about your opportunities or skills you need. Let’s work together to share volunteering roles and continue building thriving communities across Derbyshire.