Volunteers week is a chance to turn concern into action

Over the past few years, I have spent a lot of time talking to people about volunteering. Some are looking for a role for the first time. Some have recently retired. Others are searching for a way to use their skills, meet new people or simply give something back. What has struck me recently is that while national volunteering figures are declining, the desire to help within our community remains remarkably strong.

The Community Life Survey published in December 2025 highlighted a continued fall in formal volunteering across the UK. People are busy. Financial pressures remain. Many are juggling work, caring responsibilities and the everyday demands of life. Yet despite these challenges, I continue to meet people who want to contribute. Since 7 October in particular, we have seen a significant increase in people asking how they can support their community and those around them.

In many ways, this does not surprise me. At a time when so much feels uncertain and beyond our control, volunteering gives people something practical they can do. It allows them to turn concern into action. Whilst none of us can solve every challenge facing society, we can visit an older person, support a family, mentor a young person, help at an event or join a charity board. These actions may seem small, but collectively they make a huge difference.

What has become equally clear is that volunteering is not only helping charities. It is helping volunteers too. Time and again, people tell me that volunteering has brought structure, friendship, confidence and purpose into their lives. It gives people the opportunity to connect with others and feel part of something larger than themselves.

One volunteer, Ilana, shared her experience with us. After her career as an advertising copywriter came to an unexpected halt, she found herself looking for something meaningful to do with her time. Through JVN, she began volunteering with AJR, visiting a Holocaust survivor for coffee and conversation, and with ESRA’s Chataway programme, helping Israeli and Druze students improve their conversational English whilst schools remain disrupted because of the war.

Reflecting on her volunteering, Ilana told us: “Both these roles just feel so right for me.”

There is something powerful in that simple statement. The best volunteering relationships benefit everyone involved. The organisation receives support. The beneficiary gains companionship, expertise or practical help. And the volunteer finds connection, purpose and fulfilment.

At JVN, we see this happening every day. Much of our work takes place quietly behind the scenes. We connect volunteers with opportunities across the Jewish community and the wider charity sector. Some days we help someone find a role that fits around work or family commitments. Some days we support charities to think differently about volunteer recruitment and engagement. Often, we simply have a conversation with someone who wants to help but does not know where to start.

Over the years, I have learned that volunteering is rarely just about filling a role. It is about building relationships. It is about creating opportunities for people to share their time, skills and experience in ways that strengthen our charities and communities. At a time when many organisations are facing increasing demand for services, volunteers continue to play a vital role in helping charities deliver support where it is needed most. In the words of Rabbi Sacks, “our community could not exist for a day without our volunteers”.

This week marks Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1–7 June. It is a chance for all of us to pause and recognise the contribution volunteers make every day. Across our community, thousands of people give their time, energy and expertise without expecting anything in return. They support older people, mentor young people, organise events, sit on trustee boards and committees, raise funds, deliver services and strengthen the organisations that so many of us rely upon.

To every volunteer, thank you. Your contribution matters more than you may realise.

And for anyone considering volunteering, perhaps this is the week to explore what might be possible. You don’t need endless spare time or specialist expertise. You simply need a willingness to get involved. If you would like to learn more about volunteering opportunities, I would be delighted to hear from you at nicky@jvn.org.uk.