Volunteers’ Week takes place from 2-8 June this year, and we’re marking it by taking a moment to shout about something really special - the incredible dedication, time, and caring that our volunteers bring to Embrace.
From helping at summer clubs to lending a hand at fundraising events, or sharing specialist skills in finance, marketing, or IT, our volunteers are the heartbeat of our charity. They don’t just give their time to our fabulous charity, but they also bring their warmth, energy, and commitment to helping us build a world where everyone gets the opportunity to thrive and have fun.
We’re so proud to say that Embrace currently has 49 amazing volunteers, who together have contributed a staggering 2,307.5 hours of their time over the past year. That’s over 96 days of collective time given – which shows the power of community, and the difference we can make when we work together.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering isn’t just about giving your time to help others - it’s also about what you gain. It’s a chance to connect with people, learn new skills, give back to the community, and, even more importantly, to have fun while doing something that makes so much difference to us and everyone we support.
Whether you’ve got a few hours to spare, a particular skill to share, or you’re looking for a longer-term commitment, volunteering can be one of the most rewarding things you do this year. Many of our volunteers tell us they’ve gained confidence, made lifelong friendships, and developed skills they’ve used in their careers.
One of our volunteers, Rosanna Layton shares why she loves being a part of the Embrace Team – ‘I really enjoy being a part of a fun and positive team who always support each other and focus on what the young people ‘can’ achieve rather than ‘cannot’’
We also spoke to one of our trustees, Natalie Murray – ‘After shaping Embrace's rebrand, I knew I wanted to stay involved in a deeper way. Volunteering as a trustee lets me use my skills to support a cause I truly believe in, amplifying the voice of a valuable charity and creating real change in our community.'
Volunteering at Embrace – What Can You Do?
We would love to have you in our friendly, supportive community of volunteers. Here are just a few ways you could get involved:
Club Volunteers: these are our most hands-on roles. You can commit to helping at one of our summer holiday clubs, or throughout the school year. You’ll be supporting young people with additional needs to enjoy fun activities, build friendships, and grow in confidence. No two days are the same, and it’s often as rewarding for the volunteers as it is for the young people!
Event Support: do you enjoy getting stuck in and being part of a team? You could help us run a fundraising event, whether that’s marshalling a fun run, manning a stall, or co-ordinating the logistics of a major event like our ball.
Wellbeing & Skills Workshops: if you’ve got a particular area of knowledge - maybe in mindfulness, art, finance, or wellbeing - you might like to run a workshop for our staff, or even run a session for our young people. These one-off sessions can have a real lasting impact.
Behind-the-Scenes Heroes: from updating spreadsheets to helping out at our office, we welcome volunteers who want to share their professional skills in a flexible and short-term way.
Whether you can give a little or a lot, we’d love to find you the perfect place here – and volunteering with us could even open the door up to one of our paid positions, which come with plenty of opportunity for career progression too.
Everyone is Welcome
We are able to welcome volunteers from the age of 13, so if you’re looking for somewhere to gain workplace experience, invest your Duke of Edinburgh volunteering hours, or just stand out from the crowd in your job or university applications, Embrace is an ideal place to be. And there’s no upper age limit either – our oldest volunteer is 70!
You don’t need to have previous experience or loads of free time to make a difference. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life: students, professionals, retirees, and anyone in between. If you’re passionate about inclusion and creating a more compassionate world, we’d love to hear from you.
And if you’re not sure what role might suit you best, don’t worry - we’re always happy to have a chat and find something that fits.
Ready to Join Us?
This Volunteers’ Week, why not take that first step? Whether you want to get involved regularly or just for a day, your contribution really will make a difference. Find out more and apply here: embrace.org.uk/get-involved/#Apply
To find out more about the national Volunteers’ Week celebrations, visit volunteersweek.org - and here’s a huge thank you from us to all our volunteers, past, present and future. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you.
To find out more about the national Volunteers’ Week celebrations, visit volunteersweek.org - and here’s a huge thank you from us to all our volunteers, past, present and future. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you.
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