Voluntary Norfolk pioneered volunteering locally when in 1969 a group of young volunteers formed NOAH, The Norwich Organisation for Active Help, travelling the city towing a Volunteer Bureau in a tiny caravan, from which they encouraged people to volunteer.
From the very beginning volunteers running NOAH relied on their creativity and dedication. Under their wings the organisation not only helped many people but also grew. No small help on their journey was the purchase of a caravan with money from Queen’s Silver Jubilee Appeal. NOAH’s mobile volunteer centre was travelling Norwich streets in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, helping people make their first steps towards giving back to the community.
By 1995, the organisation, now known as Norwich & Norfolk Voluntary Services (NVS) was running from 18 different locations in Norfolk, eventually adopting its current name, Voluntary Norfolk, in 2008.
Voluntary Norfolk is now based in Colegate, Norwich and we continue to deliver services and support across the county, working directly in the community at Early Help Hubs, neighbourhood centres, GP surgeries, libraries and job centres.
In 2018 we merged with youth organisation Momentum to provide specialist support for youth organisations across the county, most of whom rely on volunteers.
In 2019 Voluntary Norfolk turned 50, and our work supporting volunteers, voluntary organisations, people and communities continues to be more important than ever.