Using social media

Social media is a great, free way to publicly celebrate and thank your volunteers.

#VolunteersWeek

This year, Volunteers’ Week will be sharing all your wonderful celebrations across Facebook, Instagram and via their four partner X and LinkedIn pages too.

Follow Volunteers’ Week 

Follow their UK-wide Volunteers’ Week accounts on:

You can also follow your local volunteering lead organisation on X to stay up to date with activities in your area:

Tag Us

Use #VolunteersWeek to share:

  • posts promoting, counting down to, and celebrating Volunteers’ Week
  • video testimonials from your volunteers
  • video thank you messages to your volunteers
  • photos from your Volunteers’ Week events.

You could also use your local secondary hashtag:

You’ll be joining thousands of other organisations in a UK-wide show of thanks.

You can also encourage your volunteers to share their stories using #VolunteersWeek.

Running an event

Events are a great way to thank your volunteers. Find out how to plan, publicise and run an event.

Should I run an event?

Regardless of what shape they take, a Volunteers’ Week event will bring people together to celebrate volunteers’ contributions. Whether you decide to run an event or not is up to you, but here are some things to consider as you begin your planning.

Events can help you recruit volunteers. Recruitment events can generate broad interest in volunteering and attract people who may not have considered it before.

For inspiration, check out the ‘Getting Inspired’ section.

The Big Lunch

What better way to celebrate the impact volunteers have in their communities than The Big Lunch, running from 1 to 2 June.

This is the UK’s annual get together for neighbours and communities. A big lunch can be anything from an online event, tea at your doorstep or a small gathering in a garden or park. This is an opportunity to come together with volunteers and share volunteering stories over a slice of cake and a cup of tea.

The Eden Project Communities have some handy tips and tricks to help your start your planning.

How to run and publicise your event

Once you’ve got your event planned, get in touch with local media to spread the word.