Volunteers’ Week (1–7 June 2026) is a great time to celebrate volunteering, thank your supporters, and encourage new people to get involved. It is also a useful opportunity to raise your profile and share the impact of your volunteers.
How to get involved
- Download Volunteers’ Week resources
Visit the Volunteers’ Week Resources page for free Canva templates, suggested social media posts, a volunteer story template, a press release template, media contact tips, event-planning guidance, and ideas for hosting an online quiz. These resources can save time and help you keep your messaging consistent across the week. - Host a volunteer open day
A volunteer open day can be a simple, friendly way to introduce people to your organisation. The Museum Development South West guide on planning a volunteer open day recommends a welcoming, low-pressure format with drop-in or bookable sessions, short introductions, and a chance to shadow roles where appropriate. Keep it practical by offering a morning or afternoon slot, inviting current volunteers to share their experiences, and following up afterwards with a thank-you email and a clear next step. If you want a broader event-planning reference, the GOV.UK voluntary events guide gives straightforward advice for running community events well.gov+1 - Offer flexible or virtual opportunities
Many people want to help but cannot commit to regular hours, so flexible volunteering can be a good option. Consider one-off tasks, micro-volunteering, remote support, or short taster sessions that people can try without a long-term commitment. The volunteer recruitment cycle guidance also suggests making opportunities available at different times, in different places, and online, so they are easier for more people to access. - Promote your volunteer opportunities
Use Volunteers’ Week to highlight the roles you need to fill and make sign-up simple. You could host a coffee morning, share opportunities on social media, or add your roles to the North Tyneside Volunteering website. If you need support, contact volunteering@voda.org.uk - Celebrate and thank your volunteers
Volunteers’ Week is about recognition as much as recruitment. A small thank-you event, a certificate,a personal message, or a public shout-out can make volunteers feel valued. The budget tips guide is useful if you want to keep costs down while still doing something meaningful. - Share volunteer stories
Stories are one of the best ways to show the difference volunteers make. The Volunteer Story Template can help you gather short, powerful quotes and experiences from volunteers. A simple quote, a photo, and one clear example of impact are often enough to catch attention. - Engage on social media
Keep your channels active throughout the week and use #VolunteersWeek to join the wider conversation. The resources page includes suggested social posts and Canva templates, which are especially helpful if you want to create a quick campaign without starting from scratch. A “Meet Our Volunteers” series works well because it gives people a face and story behind the organisation.
Extra tips
If you are short on time, start small: one thank-you post, one volunteer story, and one clear call to action can still make a difference. Keep your wording specific, such as “we need two people for a two-hour weekly shift” rather than “we need volunteers”.
It also helps to explain what happens next, so people know how to get involved and what support they will receive. That kind of clarity can turn interest into action.
Planning an event?
Let VODA know so we can help spread the word. Email volunteering@voda.org.uk
