Now in its 41st year, Volunteers’ Week continues to shine a spotlight on the time, skills and dedication given by thousands of volunteers across Northern Ireland and the wider UK. This year, NICVA is proud to support the campaign by joining organisations across the voluntary and community sector to say a heartfelt thank you to the volunteers who help make such a positive difference every day.
Led in Northern Ireland by Volunteer Now, Volunteers’ Week is a chance to not only celebrate those currently giving their time, but to inspire others to get involved.
Get Involved and Celebrate
Throughout the week, organisations across Northern Ireland will be taking part in coffee mornings, awards events, Big Lunch gatherings and other celebrations, recognising the value volunteers bring to their causes and communities.
Some key dates during the week include:
- Power of Youth Day – Tuesday, 3 June
Celebrating the incredible contributions of young volunteers through social action. Use the hashtag #PowerOfYouthDay to get involved online. - The Big Lunch – Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 June
A great way to bring people together and celebrate community spirit and the volunteers who help build it.
Even small acts of appreciation – like thank-you messages, social media shoutouts or handwritten cards – can go a long way in showing your volunteers how much they are valued. Resources like Thank You cards, certificates, social media graphics and campaign branding can be downloaded via the Volunteers’ Week website.
Access Volunteers’ Week resources
Supporting and Managing Volunteers Year-Round
While this week provides a moment of celebration, we also want to highlight the importance of ongoing support and good volunteer management.
- Volunteer Now offers extensive guidance, training and support for organisations who work with volunteers. From recruitment to best practice in volunteer management, they provide helpful tools for every step of the journey.
- At NICVA we have a range of practical resources, training and advice in areas like governance, HR, risk management and fundraising – all vital to creating strong, supportive environments for volunteers. You can also find opportunities and list your volunteer vacancies on our CommunityNI website.
- DIY Committee Guide is another useful tool for volunteer-led organisations, offering templates, governance health checks and practical guides for committees and boards.
Share Your Stories
We encourage all voluntary and community organisations to get involved in Volunteers’ Week – whether you're sharing a volunteer’s story, hosting an event, or posting a thank-you on social media.
Join the celebration online using the hashtags #VolunteersWeek and #VolunteersWeekNI – and don’t forget to post on the Volunteers’ Week Padlet to showcase how you’re marking the week: Visit the Padlet
A Moment to Reflect and Celebrate
Volunteers are at the heart of communities across Northern Ireland – offering their time, energy and compassion to help others. We are proud to support Volunteers’ Week 2025 and to champion the incredible work happening every day across the voluntary and community sector.
Happy Volunteers’ Week to everyone making a difference.
