Margaret Starkie on a special week to celebrate the people who keep our sector - and society - going

This week is Volunteers’ Week 2025, a warm and inspiring celebration of the incredible people across the UK who generously give their time to help others.

Now in its 41st year, Volunteers’ Week brings together communities, charities and organisations to say a heartfelt thank you to volunteers everywhere and to inspire even more people to get involved.

This annual campaign shines a spotlight on the power of kindness, generosity and community spirit.

Over the past year, 14.2 million people in the UK formally volunteered at least once a month. An additional 25m took part in informal acts of kindness, from helping neighbours to organising local events. Together, these efforts contributed an estimated £4.6 billion in productivity gains to the UK economy in 2024.

The impact of volunteering is both immense and worth celebrating. Last year’s campaign reached over 500,000 people through social media, engaged more than 300,000 subscribers, and was featured across national press and communications channels.

We’re also delighted to announce Works4U as the official sponsor of Volunteers’ Week 2025.

Dominic Pinkney, CEO of Works4U, said: “Volunteers’ Week is such an important and collaborative campaign that brings us all together, individuals, communities, organisations, and businesses to celebrate volunteers across the UK. Works4U is honoured to play a small part in making that happen.”

A variety of events and special moments will be taking place across the country throughout the week. On Tuesday, 3 June, Power of Youth Day, led by the #iWill campaign, will highlight the incredible contributions of young people making a real difference in their communities. It is a moment to celebrate youth-led social action and to inspire even more young people to find their voice and take the lead through volunteering.

Later in the week, The Big Lunch Weekend on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June will bring neighbours and communities together across the UK. People will share food, stories and laughter as they gather in parks, on streets and in community halls to celebrate connection, generosity and local pride. The Big Lunch is a powerful reminder of the sense of belonging and togetherness that volunteering helps build every day.

Volunteers’ Week is our chance to shine a spotlight on the everyday champions who give their time to make a difference. Whether it’s a few hours a week or a one-off event, every act of volunteering matters. We want to inspire more people to find a way to get involved in volunteering that works for them.

From volunteer awards ceremonies and community coffee mornings to informal gatherings and social meetups, this year’s campaign offers many opportunities for people to come together, share experiences and recognise the amazing contributions of volunteers everywhere.

Volunteers’ Week is more than just a thank you. It is an opportunity to look ahead and imagine how much more we can achieve when we work together. By celebrating what is already happening, we hope to encourage even more people to join the movement and be part of something bigger.

Margaret Starkie is partnership and communications manager at Volunteer Scotland