Coronavirus and Volunteers’ Week 2020

Volunteers’ Week takes place 1 – 7 June every year. It’s a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.

Although it’s more important than ever for us to recognise and support volunteers, we’ve decided it would be inappropriate to go ahead with many of the things we’d usually do around this time.

Like many across the volunteering sector, our focus is on supporting volunteers to take on coronavirus-related volunteering roles to help communities cope with the many consequences of coronavirus.

This was a difficult decision to make and one that was not made lightly.

Volunteers’ Week resources

We know many people use the Volunteers’ Week website for ideas and resources to recognise volunteers, not just 1 – 7 June but throughout the year.

The website will still be accessible with all the usual resources and ideas for those organisations that are still going ahead with their own activities.

However, we’ll be closing the events listing and volunteering stories pages to new content. There’ll also be no new resources this year and we’ll be suspending our Facebook and Instagram activity.

Should you still celebrate Volunteers’ Week?

Each year, every organisation that takes part in Volunteers’ Week decides how best to mark the week in their own way.

This year is no different, but many of us are facing challenges we never imagined. As such, some nation leads are continuing to mark the campaign whereas some will be stopping completely, NCVO included.

You’re best to decide what to do in your area. If you’re going ahead, here are some tips.

1. Think how your messaging will be received. We’re all facing difficult times right now which changes how people may react to a celebration campaign. ‘Time to Say Thanks’ is likely to go down better than ‘Time to Celebrate’ – so stick to using the logos without the ‘celebration’ tagline and avoid party-related images.
2. Physical distancing is still important. Many organisations have events during Volunteers’ Week, but this would be breaking current social distancing rules and could put people at risk. Where possible, stick to online events and take care when handing items out to volunteers.
3. Keep telling volunteering stories. People are stepping up to help in ways we’ve not seen before in the UK. Telling their stories is a great way to recognise and thank them for all the great things they’re doing.

Further information and support

Although some nations have had to cut back or stop activity, we’re still here to recognise and support the important contribution of volunteers.

• Volunteer Now has launched a #HelpEachOther campaign in Northern Ireland to offer guidance and support to volunteer involving organisations and those who want to volunteer.
• WCVA’s website has information on the latest guidance and support for volunteer involving organisations in Wales.
• Volunteer Scotland’s website provides information on how to volunteer safely and advice to volunteer-involving organisations during the pandemic in Scotland.
• NCVO’s website provides information about volunteering and coronavirus, how people can help and how to volunteer safely.