Volunteers Week 2026

carolineblake-syme
3 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Today, Monday 1 June, marks the beginning of Volunteers Week 2026..

Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign held from the first Monday in June to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers.

Here at The Brightwell, we simply could not operate without the dedication and support of our wonderful Volunteers across all aspects of the Charity. On behalf of every member of staff, service user, carer, family member and supporter, we would like to say a massive “Thank You!

We like to emphasise how important it is that we celebrate the support we get from all our Volunteers every single week, not just on this specific week.

Our Volunteer Oxygen Operators are fully trained, knowledgeable experts. Many have decades of experience. They run five / six sessions a day, five days a week and help support our Oxygen Coordinator to keep this department running like clockwork.

Our Fundraising and Events department has a dedicated group of Volunteers who support the team with administrative work, the Brightwell Shop, collections and collecting tins at multiple locations and organise and support fundraising and social events at the Centre and beyond, as well as give support in all other areas of fundraising.

There is also a host of tasks that go on behind the scenes, including the running of our IT systems, database, website and communications as well as making sure that we are H&S compliant. Support is given by a number of dedicated and expert volunteers in their fields, which would cost the Centre a substantial amount if we had to buy this expertise in!

Our Café team relies on the goodwill of brilliantly hard-working volunteers, and our Reception team counts on the support of a select group of equally brilliant volunteers that professionally carry out any manner of reception duties from answering the phone to booking in appointments and using the database.

Our beautiful Therapy Garden and grounds are managed by our green-fingered gardening volunteers, with help from time to time by groups from our corporate supporters. Who are also giving up their time to volunteer for us.

A Special Tribute to Keith Gilbey During Volunteers' Week

Our volunteers are at the very heart of this community, and Keith embodied everything a great volunteer should be; kind, friendly, reliable, and utterly committed.

It feels only right, then, to celebrate his life during Volunteers' Week.

As part of our tributes to all our wonderful volunteers, we will be honouring Keith as one of our Star Volunteers, and we warmly invite his Centre friends to join us for tea and cake on Thursday, 4 June at 2 pm. All volunteers, staff, and members are most welcome to join us.

Doro Pasantes, our CEO, would personally like to take this opportunity to thank each Volunteer who gives up their time at the Brightwell!

We will also be holding our annual “Volunteers Thank You Party” later in the year.

THANK YOU!”