Celebrating Volunteering in the Western Isles

This year, to mark the queen’s 90th birthday, Volunteers’ Week has been extended to 1st – 12th June.

This offers an excellent opportunity for organisations to take time to pause for a moment and recognise the amazing work done by their volunteers and to say a big thank you for all the effort over the last year.

The Volunteer Centre Western Isles is marking Volunteers’ Week this year by hosting the biennial Volunteer Awards on Thursday 2nd June in the town hall in Stornoway.

Volunteers from Lewis and Harris will be given public thanks and recognition for their work for a host of different organisations around the islands.

Categories for the main awards are: Young Volunteer of the Year; Volunteer of the Year; Services to Volunteering, and Organisation of the Year. Young volunteers will also be given Saltire or Callanish Awards.

“The standard of nominations received for all categories has been exceedingly high, as usual,” explained Kirsty Macdonald, joint manager of the VCWI.

“We regard each nominee as a winner, even though we cannot give everyone a prize, because each person or organisation has made an outstanding contribution and the individual stories of their achievements are so uplifting.

“From young to old, people are getting out in their communities and getting active in one way or another, with an incredible impact on life in the Western Isles.”

Volunteers’ Week has the themes of Recognise, Reward and Recruit. If you work with volunteers, why not find some simple way to say thanks during Volunteers’ Week?

It can be as simple as a thank you card, a tea party, Volunteers’ Week certificates or just a big smile and letting them know how much they are appreciated.

For more ideas on how to celebrate the week with volunteers, please contact the local VC offices.

The Volunteer Centre is always there to support volunteer involving organisations and to help people find suitable volunteering.

They can be contacted at 95, Cromwell Street, Stornoway. Tel 01851 700366 or Tarbert 01859 502636.

E mail: [email protected] or check out the website: here