Join us as we celebrate Volunteers Week 2026
Community Resource, who have been supporting communities in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin since 1960 will be holding a volunteers week celebration event on Saturday 6 June, in the square, Shrewsbury.
The event, which has been months in the planning, will celebrate the positive impact volunteers continue to have on communities throughout Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. This special day will include a whole host of family friendly activities provided by the many exhibiting organisations.
Kim Thompson-Lawrence, Team Leader of the Employability and Enterprise Programme at Community Resource said, “in 2025, 33% of adults regularly participated in formal or informal volunteering”. Kim continued “here in Shropshire, we have a considerable number of organisations who rely on volunteers to carry out a variety of tasks and jobs”.
According to a government survey, the most common roles for formal volunteering were fundraising, committee work/trustees, and practical help (shopping/gardening). Whilst other supportive roles were activities which helped reduce social isolation, shopping and help in the home
Kim continued “it really is important to celebrate every single hour that our volunteers give. 88% of organisations in the UK cite volunteers as mission critical, meaning they wouldn’t be able to sustain their services without volunteers”.
Community Resource, based on the Shrewsbury Business Park, relies on volunteers to deliver a wide range of roles and services that help people stay connected to their local community and reduce social isolation. Opportunities include hearing loss support, event support and the Buddy System, which pairs volunteers with people who may feel isolated or alone. Through regular support and encouragement, volunteers help individuals take part in local activities, build confidence, make new friends, and become more active within their community.
Kim continued “in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, we have 1,907 registered charities who are supported with 130,746 volunteer hours per week. That equates to 14 million hours per year. Volunteers contribute £222 million in Social Value to the local economies of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin each year. Those are quite amazing statistics”.
Kim’s team, the Employability and Enterprise Programme supports 18-30 year olds with volunteering experience to give valuable skills to help in securing permanent employment. The programme also offers a Business Bootcamp for those in that age group interested in setting up their own business.
Community Resource’s Volunteers in the Square event will also be attended by many Shropshire organisations including the Shrewsbury (football club) Foundation and SYA (Shropshire Youth Association).
Shrewsbury Foundation provides football development, health and wellbeing support and education and learning opportunities to inspire communities and provide opportunities to help individuals achieve their goals and realise their potential. SYA supports youth clubs, groups and organisations across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin, providing children and young people with life changing opportunities – to discover their confidence, make friends and create fond memories.
Kim said “it promises to be a very interesting day, with lots of exhibitors and interactive demonstrations. We are hoping anyone interested in finding out about volunteering will come along and find something suitable”.
References: Statistics – taken from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport – Community Life Survey 2025: Volunteering and Charitable Giving.
