Today marks the start of the 39th year of Volunteers' Week (1-7 June), when Somerset Council joins thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK.

The Council, which came into being on 1 April 2023, has almost 1,600 volunteers with many supporting services that are so important to the county's residents of all ages from libraries and the environment, to children, young people and the NHS.

With this year's theme of 'Celebrate and Inspire' the Council wants to encourage more people to be the change and get involved in volunteering in whatever way suits them best.

The contribution of volunteers is often unseen and unrecognised by many, visible only through the incredible impact of their volunteering. Volunteers' Week gives everyone the chance to celebrate volunteers' efforts and all they contribute to Somerset's communities and society.

"Volunteers are the beating heart of Somerset – they really do keep our communities alive and thriving. We all owe so much to the many hours of unpaid service they contribute. Somerset would be a poorer place without volunteers," said Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Lead Member for Communities.

"I hope people join us in thanking them and consider ways that they could volunteer themselves and become part of our band of unsung heroes."

Volunteering opportunities are available on the Council's dedicated volunteering website where people can find the currently available and regularly updated opportunities.

Volunteering stats during 2020 (UK Civil Society Almanac 2022)

• 16.3m people volunteered through a group, club or organisation in 2020/21.
• More than a quarter of the population were regularly involved in informal volunteering and about half did so at least once in 2020/21.
• Most people have formally volunteered at some point in their lives, dipping in and out of involvement over time.
• People volunteer in different ways, reflecting their lifestyles, values and priorities. The way they get involved has changed during the pandemic.