​Volunteers' Week will be celebrated from June 1-7

Scotland’s volunteers are the golden thread running through and binding our communities – and they will be celebrated during a national week of action.

From 1 to 7 June, Volunteers’ Week will see a huge range of events take place in communities all over the country, from small awards ceremonies to large celebratory gatherings.

In Scotland, the theme of the week will recognise volunteers as the golden thread running through organisations, communities and society as a whole.

As well as celebrating the work of existing volunteers, Volunteers’ Week offers a new opportunity for organisations to promote the benefits that volunteering can bring.

The week can also help highlight how people can access opportunities and overcome any barriers they might be facing. So there’s a real benefit to charities, large and small, getting involved.

The Scottish Volunteering Forum, which includes charities such as Volunteer Scotland, Voluntary Action Scotland, Shelter Scotland, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and Befriending Networks, is encouraging as many organisations as possible to take part.

Sarah Latto, forum member and volunteer development manager with Shelter Scotland, is encouraging as many charities and volunteering organisations to get involved.

She said: “Following the huge success of last year’s Volunteers’ Week Scotland, we’re keen to get even more organisations and individuals taking part this time around.

“It’s a rare opportunity to mark the huge difference made by volunteers all over the country, and to catch the attention of potential new recruits.

“Don’t miss out on what’s set to be an inspirational week. Get planning now to make the most of it.”

Organisations interested in taking part should visit the Volunteers’ Week section of the Volunteer Scotland websitein the coming weeks to access a range of promotional resources, social media toolkits and suggestions for activities, or search social media for posts tagged with #volunteersweekscot.