The week of June 1st – 7th marks Volunteers’ Week – that time of the year when we give a huge thank you and a big shout out in recognition of the huge impact our amazing volunteers make.
We simply couldn’t do what we do without them, and their contribution has become even more essential during the past few months as the Covid-19 crisis has aggravated the inequalities we already knew existed within our society.
There are too many people to mention. As you would’ve read in Kirsty’s piece on Monday, more than 750 people participated in running activities and services in their communities that we are involved in.
But here are just a few of the people our team wanted to specially thank this week:
“I want to thank Cat for being community minded and a great volunteer in Hollingdean!
Cat is a mum of two lovely teenagers. She loves jewellery and is a maker, she’s caring towards others and loves a chat! She runs jewellery-making courses locally and bead-making workshops at local events both for children and adults. She is also a trustee for the Hollingdean Development Trust and founder member of a new Women’s Mutual Support group!
Thank you!”
Ceza Da Luz, Community Development Worker, Hollingdean & Saunders Park
“I’d love to give a big shout out to say Thank you to all the lovely volunteers who help out on the committee of Friends of Downlands Court, and those who support activities for older people here in Peacehaven. Also, likewise, to all the amazing people who work so hard to run community groups in Woodingdean. It is a pleasure to work with you all.”
Sue Sayers, Project Manager Older People
“THANK YOU Ros & Fran (& husbands and daughter) and Cat, Chrissie, Rob and Gus – without whom we couldn’t have distributed emergency food to 50 households each week across Hollingdean, Bates Estate & Saunders Park. You have all been amazing. You quite literally save my bacon, or at least my eggs & bread every week.”
Kirsty Walker, Director of Neighbourhoods Projects
“So many motivated people support food parcel packing and delivering in the North each week. This week, I want to specifically say thank you to three Brighton Uni student volunteers – Amias, Eliot & Sam – who have been so enthusiastic about packing of food parcels in Moulsecoomb & Bevendean over the weeks!”
Anke Thurm, Community Development Worker Moulsecoomb, Bates Estate & Bevendean
“Thank you to the Albion Community Garden for sharing such happy and colourful photos of the garden on Social Media – it brightens my feed no end.
Thank you to the Phoenix Community Association for immediately rising to the challenge to organise a Food Hub from the Phoenix community Centre.
It has been a delight to work with Amy-Lou Tilley (Secretary for Phoenix CA) and Sarah McCarthy (Chair) as well as Simon (vice Chair) who have worked tirelessly to provide a vital emergency response for their local community and beyond.
I have particularly enjoyed working at the same time on spread sheets with Amy Lou while on speaker phone – feeling we are working together even though we are in different parts of the city.
Tina March also member of the PhCA, thank you for creating a recipe booklet to go with the food parcels – amazing recipes and so quickly put together.”
Emma Reeves, Community Development Worker in Central Brighton
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An appeal has been launched to provide funds for the Food Hubs in central Brighton to ensure that those most vulnerable and affected by this crisis and experiencing hardship through loss of work and income are supported.
And this year, our partners at Community Works have produced a special poster for Volunteers’ Week, for people to colour in and put up in their windows this week. Click here to download your copy of the poster.
