Thanking “everyday heroes” this Volunteers’ Week

The new partnership which supports voluntary, charity and social enterprises has expressed its thanks to the everyday heroes who have given their time to support local communities across Norfolk and helped to ensure some return to normalcy after the pandemic.

The announcement from the Empowering Communities Partnership came at the start of Volunteers’ Week, which is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering and runs in the first week of June. This year’s theme for the national campaign is “a time to say thanks”

Lucy Hogg, Director of Voluntary and Community Sector Support for Voluntary Norfolk, which is the lead partner in Empowering Communities, said:

“Given the last two years and the challenges that we have all faced, it is only right that this year’s Volunteers’ Week is about saying thanks to all those who have made our communities stronger and more resilient. We would not have got through the pandemic without the many volunteers who have stepped forward – their work often goes unnoticed – from the volunteers supporting the vaccine rollout to those distributing food parcels to neighbours or making befriending calls to tackle social isolation.”

She continued:

“One of the best things about Norfolk I always feel, is its spirit of community; the willingness of people to step up and help others and so I and everyone else in the wider voluntary and community sector would like to pay tribute to these very special people, they really are everyday heroes.”

This will be the 38th annual Volunteers’ Week and is taking place during the “#MonthOfCommunity”. Running throughout June, #MonthOfCommunity brings together organisations with a range of events in order to encourage us all to think about and join in with activities happening in our local communities. This year Volunteers Week also coincides with national celebrations for the Queen’s Jubilee, which will see a large number of community run events such as street parties across the county.

For anyone who would like to find out more about volunteering one of the easiest ways is to go to the Voluntary Norfolk portal: Simply Connect.

It is currently used by over 200 local charities and groups, many of which are currently looking for extra help.