Celebrating Our Volunteers During National Volunteers Week

120 Volunteers attended a celebration of their work on Friday 2nd June at The Pelham Suite, Grimsby, as here at Women’s Aid NEL we hosted an evening of thanks and recognition for the great work our volunteers do that allows the charity to support women and children suffering Domestic Abuse across NE Lincs.

All the volunteers were invited from the various roles they undertake in the organisation, including the four charity shops and various other internal volunteer posts.

Volunteer Roles

• Charity Shops
• Refuge
• Women’s Centre
• Ebay
• Trustees

Denise Farman, CEO of Women’s Aid NEL personally gave a heart felt thank you to all the volunteers and told the group that the work they do would cost the organisation well over £200,000 if they had to pay them all, even at minimum wage and went on to say that the work the charity does to support women and children affected by Domestic Abuse couldn’t be done if it wasn’t for them giving their time for free.

“The work the volunteers do would cost the organisation well over £200,000 if we had to pay them all, even at minimum wage and the work the charity does to support women and children affected by Domestic Abuse couldn’t be done if it wasn’t for the volunteers giving their time for free”

Charity Shops

• Hainton Square
• Grimsby Road
• Nunsthorpe
• Willows

Over 100 of the volunteers present on Friday work in the four charity shops, putting in around 25,000 hours per year, processing and selling around 26,000 bags of donations, which generates around 35% of the total annual costs of running the charity.

National Volunteer Week

The event was held at the beginning of ‘National Volunteer Week’ which runs from 1st-7th June each year, a great time to celebrate all the essential and invaluable work carried out by so many generous and dedicated people.

Comments from the volunteers on the night were genuinely heartfelt, as they all told stories of the friendship and community they find form doing the work they do within the organisation, with many of them recording a short video with their personal reasons for volunteering with us. 

We’ll be posting these messages on our facebook page over the coming days, for everyone to see.

The Pelham suite had been decorated by the fantastic staff there, who always look after us wonderfully and we’d also like to thank them for everything they did for us on the night, including the delicious buffet they served.

Adding to the sense of family for the event, our maintenance man Steve provided the entertainment as he sang and entertained us during two sets over the evening, getting everyone dancing and enjoying the mood.

All the volunteers received a gift bag on the evening, as thank you and in recognition of the part they play in keeping the organisation going and supporting those who need help.

Everyone also received a cupcake, made by one of our team, Jo, who manages our dispersed housing.

A text message after the event said…

“I love what these little bags turned out to be as we were all so confused, I do believe!  I was nearly in tears talking about that whole night to my husband when I got home! Will be something I will never forget!”

Volunteering

If you would like to join the Women’s Aid NEL volunteer community, please get in touch with Women’s Aid NEL at support@womensaidnel.org

If you are affected by any issues surrounding domestic abuse, please get in touch on 01472 575757 or contact through any of the Women’s Aid NEL social channels – Please don’t suffer alone.