Voluntary Action Coventry (VAC) is inviting Coventry people to get involved with Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June 2026 with a range of opportunities and activities designed to inspire community engagement. This national event celebrates the vital contributions that volunteers make in delivering essential services and also shines a light on the positive uplift that volunteering brings to those who get involved.

Now celebrating its 40th year, Volunteers’ Week is a national campaign recognising the invaluable contribution volunteers make in supporting essential services, strengthening communities, and improving the lives of others. The week also highlights the many personal benefits of volunteering, from building confidence and skills to creating stronger social connections.

A recent report found that regular volunteers in England and Wales number around 4.3 million people who contribute 308 million hours of work valued at between £3.8 and £5.6 billion.

What’s happening in Volunteers’ Week? 

Volunteering is driven by people making an active choice to support causes they care about. Throughout the year, VAC provides a range of ways to support people to engage in volunteering. In Volunteers’ Week, VAC is hosting the following:

• Drop-in volunteering support sessions (Mon 1 and Tues 2 June and then every Mondays/Tuesdays 10am – 2pm, no need to book!)
• Pop-up event at Central Library, Smithford Way, CV1 (Tues 2 June, 10am  -1pm)
• Supported volunteering sessions with existing participants
• Improving Lives Course, enrolment opportunities for this 6-week supported volunteering course, next course starts 16 June
• Group volunteering activity (advance booking required due to limited spaces)
• Chat Central volunteering meet-up on Wed 3 June (advance booking required due to limited spaces)
• Browse Get Involved Coventry the city’s community engagement platform, for a huge range of live volunteering roles – with community organisations and charities who have volunteer vacancies now!

What’s special about Volunteers’ Week? 

This a great opportunity to dip a toe in the water and discover the many ways people can make a difference in Coventry. If you’re interested take a look at the links above. 

Why volunteer? 

Volunteering offers a wide range of personal benefits. It can improve confidence, help you to build meaningful connections, and provide valuable skills that support future employment opportunities. Just as importantly, volunteering can gives you a real sense of purpose and fulfilment

About Voluntary Action Coventry (VAC)

VAC works to connect individuals with meaningful opportunities that match their interests, skills, and availability, while helping charities and community organisations access the support they need. We influence change and innovation in systems and services locally, to shape a more fair and equal future and improve people’s lives. We do this by encouraging resilience in communities, supporting people to build their capacity and enabling them to do more for themselves. We’ve been doing this in Coventry for 69 years, enabling thousands of people to make a contribution in the city.

About the research quoted above:

Third Sector Trends – People, Work, Ambition and Impact

Community Foundation North East and partners survey the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across England and Wales. Every three years since 2010, Community Foundation North East and partners survey the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across England and Wales. Read the report here: