Minister Launches Volunteers' Week

Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, has launched Volunteers’ Week at an event to celebrate volunteers in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. The event was organised by the Volunteer Development Agency to recognise volunteers in Northern Ireland and the time and energy they give to benefit their communities each year.

Speaking at the event Minister Ritchie said, “It is appropriate as we mark the start of Volunteers’ Week that we acknowledge the outstanding work of volunteers. Volunteering has a profound effect on us all; on our children, our families and our friends. It is a cornerstone of our society and the lifeblood of our communities. There is no doubt that volunteers are making a real difference to the lives of people across Northern Ireland.”

Volunteers’ Week is a national campaign to celebrate volunteering which takes place from 1 to 7 June each year. The Week focuses on the key themes of recognising and rewarding current volunteers and recruiting new volunteers by encouraging people to give volunteering a try.

Wendy Osborne OBE, Director Volunteer Development Agency said, “The contribution of volunteers to life in Northern Ireland is immense. There are over 600,000 people in Northern Ireland involved in some form of volunteering and Volunteers’ Week gives us the opportunity to draw attention to these often unrecognised and unsung heroes.”

A new guide to volunteering entitled “Volunteer - Play Your Part” was launched by the Minister at the event. The publication which will also be available in Polish, Portuguese, Lithuanian, Cantonese and Urdu is a simple guide to getting involved in volunteering. “Play Your Part” which was partly funded by the Equality Commission, highlights that volunteering is open to everyone. It also aims to give that final piece of encouragement to those who may have considered volunteering before but never took the last step.

Commenting on the new publication Minister Ritchie said, “I want to encourage the growth of volunteering and provide new and better experiences for volunteers. I therefore welcome this new leaflet and am especially pleased that versions are being printed in Polish, Portuguese, Lithuanian, Cantonese and Urdu. This reflects the inclusiveness of volunteering and the increasingly diverse makeup of our society.”

If you would like to download a copy of Volunteer – Play Your Part go to www.volunteering-ni.org.