Volunteers’ Week is celebrating those who devote their spare time to making their community a better place.

Wessex Community Action’s mission is to help charities and voluntary groups in Wiltshire thrive and develop.

After the pandemic, the number of people volunteering declined and although that trend is beginning to reverse, many charities and groups are crying out for more help.

Our recent State of the Sector survey found 49 per cent of the 114 groups who responded are finding it difficult to attract new volunteers.

One in five groups rely solely on volunteers, while 10 per cent said they have volunteers who work above 17 hours a week – more than a part-time job.

Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley has around 1,200 volunteers in the hospice and out in communities across the county.

Its 25 fundraising shops and two furniture shops alone rely on more than 650. Another 450 help with food on the wards, provide art therapy, tend to the gardens, drive patients and family to appointments, act as companions, or are telephone befrienders.

Community engagement and volunteer coordinator Sarah-Jayne Fell said: “Our volunteers literally are the lifeblood of our organisation. 

"If we didn't have them we would have very little impact. Without them, we simply wouldn't be able to function.”

She says the volunteers gain just as much back as they contribute, adding: “They like being part of a hub and of something social, they have got other people to talk to and they see people every day.”

The theme of this year’s Volunteers’ Week, which lasts from June 1 to 7, is Celebrate and Inspire. Charities and groups will use it to highlight diversity in volunteering.

Volunteer and community development worker Sarah Pickering said: “Anyone can be involved in volunteering, and you can fit it around your lifestyle.

"If you have only a few hours a week or month, in person or remotely, you may be able to volunteer where your skills and knowledge can make such a difference to the people in your community.”

Wessex Community Action’s Wiltshire Together online portal is free community platform for voluntary groups and charities to advertise community events and for people to search for volunteering opportunities.

The site, which has more than 660 community organisations and individuals registered, allows people to register and list their experience and skills. They are then matched to relevant groups needing help – or can search for volunteer opportunities in their area.

Sign up at wiltshiretogether.org