Volunteers Week 2025
02 June, 2025Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign held from the first Monday in June to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers. Launched in 1984, this initiative has been running for over 40 years, providing organisations and communities a platform to thank current and past volunteers for their invaluable efforts. The campaign highlights the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK.
The MCT aims to support organisations from across the whole of the charity sector from social welfare to conservation, and to the arts. Volunteers are an essential asset to all charitable organisations.
Through our Awards Programme the MCT is partnered with many organisations across various non-profit sectors that highlight the brilliant work from dedicated volunteers. We are able to spotlight the teams and individuals using their time to help their communities and those in need.
This year we are celebrating long-standing anniversaries with a number of our Award partners that help to recognsie their invaluable volunteers.
For 25 years, our Volunteer Awards with Barnardo’s are a way of celebrating the great achievements of their volunteers throughout the UK. Much of Barnardo’s work relies on volunteers who help to run services, volunteer in charity shops, and fundraise for the organisation, often bringing their own personal and life experiences to the role. Over this time the relationship has developed and has allowed us to increase our Scheme with Barnardo’s to recognise even more volunteers.
The British Trust for Ornithology and the MCT have run an Awards Scheme for 15 years. We are able to celebrate the efforts of both professionals and volunteers working together to conserve our natural habitat. The MCT run a number of Awards with the Churches Conservation Trust that recognise volunteers is different roles working together to promote the importance and value of our churches. Although these Awards have developed over the years, the partnership is celebrating its 15-year anniversary this year. For a decade we have been recognising volunteers from both St Mungo’s and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
New Volunteer Awards
Over the past year, the MCT has gained new relationships with a number of organisations to help recognise their volunteers. The Marsh Friends of the Year Award with British Association of Friends of Museums recognises the work of Friends Groups in museums around the country. These groups support their museums through fundraising, voluntary work, helping to advocate for needed resources and helping them engage with their communities.
Campaign for National Parks is dedicated to securing the future of National Parks in England and Wales. The MCT supports the Marsh National Park Nature Award, which recognises the contribution of a group, project or initiative that has put nature at the heart of their work with the aim of protecting National Parks for the future.
The Marsh Volunteer Awards with FoodCycle recognise the exceptional dedication and support their volunteers provide, making a tangible difference in their communities. Similarly, our Awards with St Paul’s Cathedral recognise volunteers from a variety of roles through the Cathedral.
Over the next week, we will be recognising more of our Volunteer Awards through events and presentations to announce our winners. Look out for the call for nominations opening as well!
