Volunteers Week 2025, celebrating 5 years of Westminster Connects!
From Monday the 2nd to Sunday 8th June, people across the country will be celebrating the incredible contributions that volunteers make every day.
We couldn’t do the work we do without you! 5 years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic – so many of you reached out to us to tell us that you wanted to help, so Westminster Connects was born. You have spent the last 5 years helping to run vaccine centres, supporting your neighbours with care and support needs, preserving arts and culture by helping out at events and supporting our local voluntary and community sector.
We are grateful to all our volunteers for your time and dedication, and to the impact to the health, wellbeing and resilience of our community.
The National Volunteers Week Campaign have shared some inspiring statistics about volunteering in the UK in 2024 – count yourself included in making this happen!
· 14.2 million people in the UK have formally volunteered at least once a month
· Volunteering added £4.6 billion in productivity gains to the UK economy in 2024
· 25 million people in the UK volunteered informally at least once in the year
To celebrate Volunteers Week this year and appreciate your efforts, Westminster Connects invited our active volunteers working on our core services, to Tate Britain and Kensington Palace Gardens. Volunteers will get to know each other and enjoy our city’s arts and culture, and if you are attending, we hope you have a lovely time.
A few weeks ago, we had the absolute pleasure of coming together with some of our active volunteers at the Kew Gardens Community Open Day for a thank-you day filled with laughter and connection. From wandering through the serene greenhouses of Temperate House to strolling past Of the Oak, a one-of-a-kind immersive art installation - we thoroughly enjoyed our exploration and time connecting with nature.
Volunteers bravely attempted the Treetop Walkway, 18 meters above the ground – and some volunteers got so caught up in the spirit of that day that we even hugged a tree! Check out the fun below!
Whether you’re already volunteering or thinking about starting, this is your opportunity to be part of something truly special. If you aren’t sure where to start, why not attend one of our Westminster Connects Introduction Sessions, designed to be informative, fun and to provide you with a better understanding of what it means to be a Westminster Connects volunteer, what roles are available and how to pick one, what support we can give you.
We are looking forward to your volunteering journey with us, in 2025 and beyond.