A big 'thank you' to all our volunteers for everything they do

Our thousands of volunteers do so much for the residents of the borough.

National Volunteer Week (1-7 June) is our opportunity this week to give a big ‘thank you’ to each and every one of them.

They provide a lifeline to vulnerable people through services such as befriending; contribute to the community through organising arts, sports, heritage, culture, holiday and other activities; and provide humanitarian aid through the Bury Community Support Network.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Earlier this year Councillor Tim Pickstone, the Mayor of Bury, thanked and highlighted the variety of their work in the enclosed video: Let’s Say Thank You to Volunteers - Bury Council (vidius.co.uk)(https://thankyouburyvolunteers.vidius.co.uk/)

During the pandemic local people have helped those who were shielding by delivering food and prescriptions, through Bury’s community hubs, for people unable to leave their homes; made regular phone calls to help combat loneliness and provide support; and also helped to run the massive effort to get our residents vaccinated.

Let’s become a volunteer

During National Volunteers Week, the call has gone out for more people to come forward.

Bury Voluntary, Community and Faith Alliance (VCFA) supported by Bury Council is running ‘Volunteering…Let’s Do It’ webinars this week for anyone interested in finding out more.

The webinars take place on Thursday and Friday during National Volunteers Week to chat with anyone interested in becoming a volunteer in Bury.

Each webinar lasts 45 minutes and is an opportunity to find out what volunteering is, its benefits and how to simply ‘Do It!’ by getting involved.

To find out more go to: Volunteering.... Let's Do it! Tickets, Fri 4 Jun 2021 at 15:00 | Eventbrite(https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteering-lets-do-it-tickets-155842205231?aff=erelexpmlt)

If you would like to know more but can’t make the webinars then please go to the Bury VCFA website: Bury VCFA – Enhancing the Quality of Life of local residents(https://www.buryvcfa.org.uk/)

Bury VCFA runs the Bury Volunteer Bank where you can search for opportunities in Bury. Register at the Bury VCFA website: https://www.buryvcfa.org.uk/volunteering/

Let’s support our community hubs

Bury Community Hubs provide support to 11,000 residents in Bury that are vulnerable or residents who don't have anyone else to turn to for support, including people having to self-isolate.

If you are able to help the hubs in any way please go to the Bury VCFA website: https://www.buryvcfa.org.uk/volunteering/

Let’s become a Covid Champion

The Covid-19 Community Champion network is made up of volunteers from all areas of the borough to help residents to stay up to date with how to protect themselves and others against the virus.

Bury Public Health will keep Covid-19 Community Champions informed of the latest advice and guidance, hold exclusive webinars and Q&As, and allow you to ask questions to the Public Health Team.

We want you to share this reliable and up to date Covid-19 information with anyone in your family, friends and community.

For further information go to our website: Become a Covid-19 community champion - Bury Council(https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=16028)

Councillor Richard Gold, cabinet member for communities, said volunteers are the lifeblood of the borough.

“Thank you all those of you have volunteered and been critical to making sure all our vulnerable people are looked after,” he said.

“It’s never been so important for us all to come together as a community and look after each other.

“Our volunteers have done and are doing a brilliant job – from ringing people who are shielding and lonely to delivering food and medicines; supporting our vaccination centres; or simply calling round on a neighbour to make sure they are alright.

“But National Volunteer Week is more than just celebrating those who have helped during the past year; it’s about commemorating all their work in the community day in, day out.

“There are too many to name individually but a big ‘thank you’ goes out to all our volunteers for everything they do.”

Sajid Hasmi, chief officer of BVCFA, added: “National Volunteers Week is an opportunity for all volunteer involving organisations in Bury to stop and say a special ‘thank you’ to all the volunteers who have given their time to support the many diverse volunteering activities that go on daily.

“This year is an opportunity to pause and offer a very special thank you to all those volunteers who have supported their local neighbourhoods during the challenging times of Covid.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 3 June 2021.