Wessex Community Action is the council for voluntary services in Wiltshire and provides practical support for community organisations on funding, governance, planning, policy development, recruiting and leadership. This monthly volunteering column looks at all aspects of volunteering and how people can give up their time for the benefit of their communities.

This week (June 3 to 9) is the 40th Volunteers’ Week, an annual chance to recognise the enormous contribution to society that volunteers make.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) estimates volunteers’ efforts add  an estimated £18.2 billion to the UK economy every year so it is important to pause in a week like this and thank them.

But is a yearly thank you enough? What should be done to make them feel appreciated enough to want to carry on donating their time and expertise?

A Wessex Community Action (WCA) survey last year found half of the charities who responded said they find it hard to attract new volunteers and with a significant portion of volunteers being older, it is clear they are not a finite resource. This is serious when you consider one in five of the charities who responded to that survey rely solely on volunteers.

Not all volunteers need thanks of course but at a time when voluntary groups and charities have fewer resources and are being pushed harder to meet increasing demand on their services, volunteers can often bear the brunt.

Swindon Advertiser:

Jennie Shaw, Director of the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, says her organisation couldn’t function without volunteers and believes making them feel appreciated and respected is a high priority.

“We have team meetings every month where everything is openly discussed and shared,” she said. “I think it is really important for volunteers to feel part of the organisation.”

She makes sure volunteers are told about thank you messages from clients, they receive birthday wishes and that they and their partners are invited to get-togethers. “It's the partners who are losing their husbands or wives while they go out to volunteer for us,” she said.

Getting to know volunteers and their motivation for doing so is just as important. “It's about understanding what makes them tick and making sure that the charity can help them – and also respecting their skills,” she said. “We want to make them feel that we are another family for them.”

WCA works closely with the voluntary sector to advise on recruiting and retaining volunteers and one aspect of that work is how to say thank you. There are many things to consider, for instance any kind of gift could be seen as employment income and benefit in kind rules might apply. Gifts volunteers could make potentially financial gains from may also affect their benefit claims or tax.

There are though national reward schemes such as Hidden Rooms, which offers volunteers unsold hotel rooms, or Charity Workers Discounts. Volunteer and Community Development Worker Sarah Pickering said: “Volunteers are the heart of our community organisations, so recognising and rewarding their contribution in a way that is comfortable for the volunteer will make their experience as enriching as possible.”

There is a wealth of information on the Volunteering in Wiltshire page on WCAs Wiltshire Together platform, a free online portal that allows users to browse and pledge interest in opportunities listed by charitable organisations across the county. The page is full of information, ideas and contacts.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer and the the volunteering support WCA can offer, contact Sarah at volunteerdev@wessexcommunityaction.org.uk. Find the Volunteering in Wiltshire page at wiltshiretogether.org.uk/wiltshire-volunteering