This year, as in every year, National Volunteers’ Week (2nd – 8th June) coincides, because it falls in the month of June, with the dedication to celebrating communities that is Communities Month. Those celebrations are as important as ours are in the volunteering services arena. We also have a very important contribution to Kingston Volunteering coming out in the middle of this week so keep your eyes open for it.
National Volunteers’ Week is all about gratitude and so it should be. If ever there was a proper time to say thanks, to volunteers and the groups that come together in our communities, it is here and now. The contribution of volunteers has ensured our society remains functioning over the past fifteen years of our society’s peaks and troughs.
The thought of celebrating may not be appealing right now, while the demand for foodbanks keeps reaching a new peak, being positive whilst millions of displaced Ukrainians and Gazan’s continue look for safety and with money in the Voluntary Sector remaining as tight as ever. Personally, whilst I understand this thinking, I believe greater hurdles calls for a greater need for trumpet blowing. June 2025 and the joint approach of National Volunteers Week and Communities Month is such an occasion.
Volunteering Kingston, and volunteer services across London and the country, will be celebrating National Volunteers’ Week, in conjunction with others, to show our appreciation to volunteers who have dedicated their time and effort to support their communities. We are working with others to ensure a time to show gratitude to those who selflessly contribute continues later into the month.
Welcome to National Volunteers Week and Communities Month 2025, Kingston style. Events will be held across June to not only mark our appreciation but to be central in strengthening bonds that bind individual volunteers, volunteer-involving organisations and the statutory sector locally. Keep your eyes peeled, it will be celebratory and most importantly full of gratitude.
Michael Green – Projects Manager, Volunteering Kingston.