Find out how to get involved this Volunteers’ Week

Next week Blackburn with Darwen will celebrate the many volunteers across the borough who give their time and talents for free – and offer others the chance to get into volunteering.

Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1 to 7 June, will bring lots of opportunities to find out more about volunteering locally.

Organised by Community CVS with public and voluntary sector partners, events throughout the week will include stands in Blackburn Market, Morrisons, Darwen Library and Darwen Leisure Centre, along with a Chill & Chat event in the Boulevard Centre – all offering information on getting into volunteering to anyone who has a little time to spare and wants to give something back to their local community.

At local hospitals people can find out about current volunteering roles in health and social care.

A Volunteers Fair at Blackburn Carers Service will give people the chance to explore opportunities to volunteer with a range of local organisations.

And Audley Neighbourhood Centre is offering an Introduction to Volunteering workshop for anyone who wants to gain some essential skills before taking on a volunteer role.

Plus lots more! Get all the details of what’s happening when during Volunteers’ Week in Blackburn with Darwen.

Garth Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of Community CVS, said:

“We’re keen to use Volunteers’ Week to attract new people to volunteering, by highlighting the many different ways volunteers can give a little of their time, their energy and their skills for the benefit of others.

“Volunteering is also a great way of learning new skills and getting experience of working alongside other people, which can really strengthen job prospects and enhance people’s CVs.

“And, of course, Volunteers’ Week is the perfect time to say thank you to all the volunteers already making a huge difference to people’s lives in Blackburn with Darwen.”

Nationwide during Volunteers’ Week on Friday 7 June hundreds of ‘Big Thank You’ events will be held to recognise the valuable contribution volunteers make to their local communities. In Blackburn with Darwen, many organisations that involve volunteers will be hosting coffee mornings to show gratitude to the borough’s volunteers. These include Lancashire Volunteer Partnership, Community CVS, Blackburn Youth Zone and Darwen Valley Community Centre.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said:

“In Blackburn with Darwen we are incredibly lucky to have so many volunteers from all walks of life and across generations. They get involved in their local communities, give time to support others and pitch in to make the borough a better place. Volunteers’ Week gives us an opportunity to recognise them and say thank you for the valuable contributions they make.

“For anyone who is considering getting involved in local and community life as a volunteer, next week is the time to get out and find out more about how to go about it.”

Volunteers’ Week in Blackburn with Darwen will culminate with the Community Volunteer Awards ceremony. Taking place in King George’s Hall on Monday 10 June, the awards, organised jointly by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Community CVS will crown the borough’s community heroes, those individuals and community groups who go the extra mile as volunteers.

The full programme of what’s happening in Blackburn with Darwen during Volunteer’s Week from 1 to 7 June is available on the Community CVS website.

You can find out more by contacting Community CVS on 01254 583957 or office@communitycvs.org.uk.

The Lancashire Volunteer Partnership can help to match up people with suitable volunteering roles. From people listening to young children read, to befrienders supporting vulnerable older people, there’s a wide variety of  opportunities available.

Anyone can register on the LVP website.