Healthwatch Dorset marks Volunteers’ Week 2025

Running every year since 1984, Volunteers’ Week provides a crucial opportunity to thank volunteers and recognise the value of their time, passion and skills. The campaign highlights the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK, from national organisations to grassroots groups, by celebrating the spirit of volunteering that enriches communities each year.

We are supported by 70 volunteers, who contributed 548 hours of their time over the last year. To thank them for their support, this Volunteers’ Week we are running a number of events. These include holding a celebration afternoon tea, an online get together, an opportunity for volunteers to demonstrate their communication, organisation and community engagement abilities through a five-task fun challenge, plus a public engagement event at a local Food Bank. In addition, to say thank you, we have successfully nominated two of our volunteers for Room to Reward’s Hidden Hero recognition awards where they will receive a free hotel break.

Healthwatch Dorset Volunteer Officer, Lindsey Fish, said: "Volunteers are crucial to what we do, especially as we are a small team. Volunteers' Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the fantastic contribution our volunteers make. Thanks to them, the local community has benefited from improved information about urgent care following our A&E project, raised awareness of the local issues around NHS dentistry and better access for carers, just to name a few."

Imogen is one of the growing number of local youth volunteers who commented: "I find being a volunteer at Healthwatch Dorset to be a really enriching opportunity because it's nice to know that your research and time goes towards causes that have real life applications. So for example, knowing that our current investigation to learn about experiences those who are new to the UK of health communications and information will potentially have an impact on health services and possibly make access easier, is exciting and rewarding."

Volunteers’ Week is led by the UK Volunteering Forum, a partnership between Volunteer Scotland, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and Volunteer Now in Northern Ireland.

The UK Volunteering Forum said: "Volunteers bring a richness to organisations across the country. There is no better time to recognise the diversity of our volunteers and celebrate the difference that volunteering makes than during Volunteers’ Week. Without volunteers many charities just simply could not function, with so many people giving up their time and going above and beyond. The week is a chance for all of us to show just how vital they are to charities and communities everywhere."