From Monday 3 June, Citizens Advice Rutland will be celebrating volunteers across the County as part Volunteers' Week.

Volunteers' Week celebrates the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK.

The celebration starts on the first Monday in June every year. It's a chance to recognise, celebrate and thank the UK's incredible volunteers for all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector, and society as a whole.

his year marks 40 years of Volunteers' Week, and voluntary and community groups across Rutland will be celebrated as part of the national initiative.

Local groups deliver a range of services, provide leisure activities, support young people, older people and those in need and so much more. Volunteers' Week exists to champion and celebrate this vital role volunteers play in communities.

Citizens Advice Rutland gives help to the voluntary sector in the County and is leading on a range of activities during Volunteers' Week.

As an early kick-off to the week, Citizens Advice Rutland will have a stand at the Rutland County Show on Sunday 2 June celebrating and promoting Rutland's amazing voluntary and community groups and their volunteers. They will be inviting visitors to share their thanks to volunteers and find out about opportunities in the County.

On Wednesday 5 June they will be teaming up with Rutland and Stamford Sound, a largely volunteer-led community radio station, and their Pop Up Radio. The station will be encouraging people to drop by and share their volunteer stories and learn more about what's available in the area on Goal Street, just off the High Street in Oakham, from 10am to 12noon.

On the same day Rural Coffee Connect, a partnership project in Rutland between Citizens Advice Rutland and the Rural Community Council charity, will be bringing information about the groups and services that many volunteers help to deliver to Empingham Cricket and Social Club. The team will be on hand for a chat from 10am until 3pm with free barista coffee and hot drinks served from 11am.

Volunteers' Week ends with The Big Help Out, a weekend of raising awareness of volunteering throughout the UK, providing opportunities for people to experience volunteering and make a difference in their communities from 7 - 9 June.

Throughout the period Citizens Advice Rutland will be using social media to highlight the range of volunteering opportunities available across the County, as advertised on volunteerplusrutland.org.uk, the volunteer matching website for the area.

Susan Evans, Community Development Officer at Citizens Advice Rutland, said: "Volunteers carry out an amazing amount and range of activity to support their communities in Rutland. National events like Volunteers' Week and The Big Help Out provide a great platform to celebrate the people involved, highlight local volunteer roles and hopefully inspire more to join in."

To keep up to date with all the news on Volunteers' Week in Rutland, follow VolunteerPlusRutland on Facebook or VolunteerRut on X, or people can make contact with Susan, the Community Development Officer, Citizens Advice Rutland via [email protected] or 01572 725809.

Citizens Advice Rutland supports the voluntary sector and assists those wanting to volunteer in Rutland. The Volunteer and Community Sector (VCS) Network is an active and vibrant support network open to anyone involved in voluntary and community organisations in the county. Citizens Advice Rutland hosts monthly networking meetings which lets members connect with each other, share ideas and access funding and training. We also help to find and recruit new volunteers.