Let’s celebrate Volunteers’ Week this year by giving a massive thank you to all those who have stepped up and provided a vital lifeline to our communities every day.
As we mark National Volunteers’ Week, we should of course say thank you to volunteers across Wales and those who support volunteering.
The interest, awareness and appreciation for volunteering continues to grow, which make this a great time to ensure your organisation is visible to prospective volunteers. But more than that, we need to ask, are we doing enough to support and sustain volunteering?
THE UNIQUE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERS
Now, more than ever, we can all appreciate the unique contribution volunteers make to the lives of others. Volunteers answer a demand that is unique to them they do not replace or replicate the work of staff and professionals rather, they volunteer their time and fill a unique space that cant be replicated.
From hospitals to homes, from mental health support to mealtime help, services across Wales would struggle. Volunteers don’t fill in the gaps – they enrich care, reduce pressure on staff, and bring a human touch that no system alone can replicate.
VOLUNTEERING IN WALES: A VITAL FORCE FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING
As we celebrate National Volunteers’ Week, a spotlight is being shone on the vital role volunteers play in supporting Wales’ health and care system – not just today, but long into the future.
Volunteering can help Wales respond to some of its greatest challenges: an ageing population, mental and physical ill-health, and rising social isolation.
Regular volunteering is known to benefit both recipients and volunteers themselves, boosting confidence, reducing loneliness, and improving wellbeing. But to truly unlock its potential, we need to rethink and modernise how we engage, support, and structure volunteering across our communities.
By 2040, Wales is expected to see a significant rise in older volunteers. This demographic shift presents a major opportunity—but also a need to redesign roles to suit changing needs and capabilities. At the same time, we must do more to reach underrepresented groups, particularly those who would benefit most from the connections and confidence volunteering can bring.
If we want a fairer, more resilient Wales, volunteering must be front and centre in how we design our future. That means inclusive policies, stronger partnerships, and sustained investment.
VOLUNTEERING ISN’T JUST NICE TO HAVE, IT’S ESSENTIAL
Thousands of people across Wales are giving their time to help others, offering comfort, connection, and care when it matters most. Yet too often, volunteering remains a hidden asset. It’s undervalued, underfunded, and underused.
The Bevan Commission ‘The Values and Values of the Third Sector’ paper calls for a national strategy to embed volunteering into the future of health and care in Wales, by developing flexible, meaningful roles and strengthening partnerships between statutory services and the voluntary sector.
BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT VOLUNTEERING
Leaders in health and social care all have a stake in promoting volunteering as a core component of our services. It shouldn’t be an afterthought but rather a fundamental aspect of our planning and vision. By investing in volunteer coordination, measuring their impact, and ensuring volunteers feel integrated into the team, we can strengthen the fabric of our communities.
Let us take this opportunity during Volunteers’ Week to not only celebrate our volunteers but also commit to creating a supportive environment that recognizes and nurtures their invaluable contributions. Together, we can ensure that volunteering remains the heartbeat of health and care in Wales.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information, take a look at the framework for volunteering in health and social care or to search for current volunteering opportunities in your area, please visit the Volunteering Wales website.