The first week of June is National Volunteers' Week - a chance to recognise and celebrate the work undertaken by an army of people who voluntarily commit time and energy to help others
While things are different this year due to coronavirus, here at Meningitis Now we wanted to take the time to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all of our wonderful volunteers and Ambassadors, and to recognise the tireless work they do in the community to support our cause.
Last year, our volunteers gave up over 4000 hours of their time to support many aspects of our work, including raising awareness and vital fundraising. Examples include:
- Representing Meningitis Now at key events including our annual reception for MPs in the House of Commons;
- Events support: Be it cheering London Marathon runners, or working a checkpoint at our Five Valleys Walk;
- Awareness raising using personal stories: Talks are given up and down the country, to groups including schools, businesses and clubs.
The list goes on and includes essential office-based activities such as helping the charity send out many thousands of posters, leaflets and bits of merchandise every year, and even, when required, activities such as data collection and analysis.
We also know how important our charity, and the work that we do, is to our volunteers and the positive impact volunteering for Meningitis Now has on their lives. Our volunteers tell us:
“I am immensely proud to be involved and to have the chance to give something back to a charity that did so much for my family.”
“To be a face of this wonderful charity is so fulfilling."
Commenting at the start of National Volunteers’ Week, Dr Tom Nutt, CEO at Meningitis Now, said:
"Whilst coronavirus has changed the world in so many ways, some things stay the same – such as the incredibly valuable contribution that volunteers make to other people’s lives and to the fabric of our culture and society. Without volunteers, Meningitis Now couldn’t do so much to help save lives and rebuild futures, and volunteers contribute by raising awareness, supporting others, influencing government and policy makers, and just helping us to get the job done. On behalf of Meningitis Now, I want to take the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all our wonderful volunteers and Ambassadors."
You don’t have to have had a meningitis experience to become a Meningitis Now volunteer and we would welcome enquiries from people who share our desire to fight this life-threatening disease and help and support those who have been touched by it.
To find out more about volunteering for Meningitis Now visit our volunteering pages or email volunteering@meningitisnow.org.
