County celebrates Volunteers’ Week

Staffordshire has thousands of volunteers making a real difference every day and their invaluable contributions were recognised last week.

From helping out at libraries, sports clubs or children’s centres, or supporting those people in communities that are most in need, volunteers make a real difference.

The celebrations are part of National Volunteers’ Week, which started on Monday 3 June.  The annual event offers the chance to recognise and say thanks to the nation’s army of volunteers.

The county council has many volunteers helping out across its services. 

The Libraries & Arts service has 528 volunteers helping deliver a wide range of services, community events and activities. 

Some of these volunteers help to run 27 community managed libraries, while young volunteers help with campaigns like the national Summer Reading Challenge for children.

The service is using the week to thank their volunteers.

Staffordshire Archives and Heritage Service have 89 volunteers who last year gave 4,035 hours of support with things like cataloguing, research, transcription, digitisation and conservation.

The council’s countryside service also has a team of volunteers who help with the management of country parks, green spaces and public rights of way. 

They help rangers with hands-on tasks like repairs to steps or paths, clearing footpaths and vegetation and helping with practical conservation activities. 

And within the council’s eight Family Hubs, who support local families, over 50 active volunteers help out with a range of activities, sessions and events.

One volunteer is Deb Armstrong (pictured) who volunteers with Maryhill Family Hub in Kidsgrove. 

Deb along with two other volunteers deliver a free stay and play session called Maryhill Explorers every week. 

Deb who was presented with a certificate for volunteering this week said: “It’s National Volunteers’ Week and I’m so proud to be a volunteer, and give back something to my community.

“I would also like to say a big thank you to the family hub team for believing in me and supporting me 100 per cent.  Volunteering is a two-way thing because it’s given me my confidence back, to believe in myself again. If you are thinking of volunteering, do it, it will be the best decision ever.”

Catherine Mann, assistant director for Culture, Rural & Safer Communities at Staffordshire County Council said: “Volunteering is a wonderful way of giving back to society and helping others.

“We have thousands of volunteers making a huge difference in local community’s right across the county and we are grateful for the work they do.  Volunteers’ Week is our chance to recognise them for what they do.

“Whether it’s volunteering in a library or at a country park or supporting people who are most in need, it all makes a huge difference to our local communities.  Also, many organisations and charities rely on volunteers to deliver their services.

“There’s lots of volunteering opportunities available across Staffordshire, so if you want to make a difference and you have some spare time, it’s a really rewarding thing to do.”

The county council also works closely with partners in the Voluntary sector such as Support Staffordshire and Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS) who support voluntary organisations across the County to maximise their activities and potential.

People can find out more about volunteering roles within the county council by contacting the relevant service or by searching on the Staffordshire County Council Website.