VOLUNTARY organisations and charities celebrated National Volunteers Week with a mass sign up day in Bradford on Avon over the weekend.

Nearly 100 people turned up to the event, held at St Margaret’s Hall on Sunday, which gave more than 25 groups the chance to recruit new volunteers.

Cllr John Potter, who organised the event during his term as mayor, said he was delighted with the turnout and sign up numbers.

“The Volunteers Day was a really good idea. When we found out about National Volunteers Week we thought it would be brilliant to coincide with that,” Cllr Potter added.

“We did get quite a few people sign up for various groups with a lot of people signing up for Lorry Watch and the Community Emergency Volunteers.”

Mr Potter said he hopes that they will be able to hold the same event next year and added: “All the spaces were taken up in St Margaret’s Hall and it gave the charity and voluntary groups the chance to meet each other and some of the volunteers even volunteered for other groups.

“The whole time was brilliant and people thought it was fitting for Bradford on Avon. It is the beginning of something that will take off.”

Many of the groups looking to recruit new volunteers on the day included the Leg Club, Lorry Watch, the Lions Club, Bradford on Avon Museum, Hub@BA15 and Wiltshire Music Centre.

Steph Ridout, coordinator of Lorry Watch in the town, said she was pleased at nearly 10 people signing up.

“It was vital to man the table to encourage people to join, if volunteers hadn't given their time to do an hour during the afternoon, then we wouldn't have gained new members,” she said. “Also newcomers were able to chat to experienced volunteers and explain what they do and how they do it.”

New volunteers at the exhibition were also be able to find out about the Wiltshire time credits scheme which recognises the time that individuals give to support the local community.

For every one hour of volunteering, people are entitled to one hour time credit which can be spent on a variety of activities across the county in partnership with Wiltshire Council and charity Spice.