Volunteers from across England have been selected as ambassadors for the thirtieth anniversary of Volunteers’ Week, which takes place from 1 – 7 June 2014.

The annual event, launched in 1984, marks the contribution that millions of volunteers make to charities and other organisations. Hundreds of events will be taking place as charities, schools, hospitals and others use Volunteers’ Week as a time to thank their volunteers.

There are 113 voluntary organisations in Nuneaton and many of them rely on the dedication, energy and commitment of their volunteers in order to support their beneficiaries.

Justin Davis Smith, director of volunteering at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which coordinates Volunteers’ Week in England, said: “Volunteers’ Week is a great opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate volunteers and the incredible contribution they make to our communities. Volunteers are an integral part of our society, and without their dedication, energy and commitment, many of the services we take for granted would simply grind to a halt.

“But the magic of volunteering is that it is a two-way relationship. So alongside the contribution to our local communities, volunteers also benefit tremendously from the experience – learning new skills, boosting their wellbeing, or simply meeting new people and having fun.

“This year we are celebrating thirty years of Volunteers’ Week and, while our focus is always looking forward, it is nice to be able to reflect on the enormous contribution volunteers have made to our communities over more than a quarter of a century and to celebrate their impact.”

Adding, Nuneaton’s Member of Parliament, Marcus Jones, said: “Volunteering has a multitude of benefits both for the volunteer and for society. The Office for National Statistics calculates the value of volunteering in the UK at a staggering £23.9bn and some 15m people are estimated to volunteer every month in the UK.

“Here in Nuneaton we have 113 voluntary organisations and over 160,000 charities in the UK rely on volunteers to function effectively, so I am delighted to support volunteers’ week and would encourage anyone interested in getting into volunteering to get in touch with the local volunteer centre.”

More information about local events can be found at http://volunteersweek.org/events or by contacting the local volunteer centre at http://www.volunteering.org.uk/where-do-i-start.