Medway’s fantastic volunteers are being celebrated as part of a national campaign.
Volunteers’ Week (Wednesday, 1 June to Tuesday, 7 June) is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering.
Medway Council’s Housing team works with a broad range of voluntary organisations, including Gillingham Street Angels, Medway Street Angels, Caring Hands and One Big Family, who help people in need by running soup kitchens, day centres and providing rough sleepers with emergency supplies. Earlier this year, Gillingham Street Angels were named the overall winners of the Pride in Medway Awards, which celebrate the good deeds, bravery and community spirit of the people of Medway.
Residents can volunteer with our A Better Medway service and lead cycle groups or health walks, become a breastfeeding peer supporter or sign up to be a health and wellbeing champion.
Volunteers also make a difference in Medway’s award-winning parks and open spaces by taking part in practical tasks, promoting parks and helping to organise events and activities. Residents can join one of the many friends and volunteer groups who help look after parks and the local environment.
At Medway’s libraries volunteers show residents how to access e-Books, gain confidence on the computer as well as deliver and collect books to those who aren’t able to get to their local library.
Incredibly proud
Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said: “We are incredibly proud of all the amazing volunteers we have here in Medway. Throughout the pandemic we saw people volunteering their time to help our most vulnerable residents and it was truly inspiring to witness. I would like to thank all volunteers across Medway for their commitment and dedication to making a real difference in their local communities.”
The council also works with Medway Voluntary Action (MVA) all year round. During Volunteers’ Week MVA is sharing local volunteer stories on social media using #MedwayHeroes, raising awareness of employer supported volunteering and encourage people to become trustees.
Supporting Medway's communities
Lisa Michalowicz, Volunteering and Comms Officer at Medway Voluntary Action, said: “Medway charities and their volunteers have been doing an incredible job in supporting Medway’s communities during the Covid-19 crisis. Volunteers’ Week is a time to say thanks and it goes without saying that there has never been a better time to thank Medway’s amazing volunteers for their support during this time. They certainly stepped up and have played a key role in helping our local voluntary and community sector to survive and now recover from the pandemic. Volunteers’ Week is a great time to showcase their stories which you can read more about at mva.org.uk/volunteering or search #MedwayHeroes.”