VOLUNTEERS’ Week is a UK wide and annual festival of volunteering which takes place from June 1-7 every year.
The Volunteers’ Week campaign was started in 1984, which means this year marks the 39th year of formally saying ‘thank you’ to volunteers. This Volunteers’ Week everyone is encouraged to take the time to celebrate, and thank their volunteers and to inspire others to get involved!
Volunteers are active in the heart of every community in Pembrokeshire. They are behind many of the services we all rely on.
Volunteers give their time, energies, and skills to many aspects of life in Pembrokeshire, in sports, the arts, education, health, faith-based organisations, the environment, public sectors, in the Welsh language and to a range of communities. Across Wales our villages, towns, cities, rural landscapes, the surrounding coasts and environment are improved and enhanced by volunteers.
So, if you are a volunteer, we want to take this chance to say a huge Thank You!
For those new to the idea of volunteering it can be a great way to try something new or pursue something you are passionate about. Share your skills or learn new ones – the choice is yours.
Depending on what you would like to get out of your volunteering you can try something flexible which fits around your other commitments, or it may be something you choose to do on a more regular basis.
You can give as much, or little time, as you have and there are lots of flexible roles available across the county, or even something you can do from home.
You might be surprised at the variety of things on offer. You could help someone in your community with errands after their stay in hospital, provide a warm welcome at a heritage centre, café or museum, help at art sessions or with gardening, support someone to get the best out of local activities or being outdoors, get involved with upcycling recycling and repairs, fundraise for a charity by helping in a shop or attending events or festivals, and so much more.
If you are inspired to find out more about volunteering, or would like know what volunteering opportunities are available in your area, you can contact the Volunteer Centre at PAVS (01437 769422 / [email protected]) or visit the Volunteering Wales Website (https://pembrokeshire.volunteering-wales.net/).
You can even talk to a Volunteering Officer on a stand, promoting Volunteers’ Week and Carers’ Week, at Castle Square in Haverfordwest on June 5, 10am-4pm (weather permitting).
We are also proud to announce that during Volunteers’ Week the Pembrokeshire Volunteering Awards 2023 will be launched!
The Awards are coordinated by PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services) and kindly supported by South Hook LNG. The purpose of these awards is to recognise and celebrate the real difference volunteers make to communities in Pembrokeshire and to themselves. If you know a volunteer, or a group of volunteers, who deserve an award please nominate them. There are 7 different categories for individuals and groups.
For more information contact the Volunteer Centre (01437 769422 / [email protected]) or visit the site https://padlet.com/volforpembs/celebrate
