Together We Thrive – Volunteers’ Week Celebration 2025

Voluntary Action Doncaster hosted the “Together We Thrive” Volunteers’ Week Celebration on Monday 2 June 2025 at the Eco Power Stadium in Doncaster. The event formed part of Volunteers’ Week and was designed to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contribution made by volunteers across Doncaster, while also showcasing the breadth of opportunities available within the local voluntary, community and faith (VCF) sector.

The event, funded by RDASH,  ran from 2.00pm to 7.00pm in the Jibba Jabba Event Room at the Eco Power Stadium and brought together voluntary and community organisations, volunteers, local residents and members of the wider community.

The Event

“Together We Thrive” was developed as a 3-in-1 community showcase, combining volunteer recognition, opportunities to discover local organisations and volunteering roles, and an afternoon of entertainment and celebration.

More than 50 exhibition stands were hosted by organisations from across Doncaster’s voluntary, community and faith sector. These provided an opportunity for organisations to promote their work, raise awareness of the support and activities they provide, and engage directly with potential volunteers and members of the community.

The event was compered by Andy Kershaw from SYFAB, who helped create an upbeat and celebratory atmosphere throughout the afternoon.

Celebrating Volunteers

A key purpose of the event was to recognise the contribution of volunteers and highlight the difference they make to communities across Doncaster.

The Volunteers Wall of Fame provided an opportunity to recognise individual volunteers and celebrate their achievements, while the Volunteers Red Carpet encouraged people to share their own volunteering experiences and stories.

These activities helped put volunteers at the heart of the event and provided a visible demonstration of the wide-ranging contribution they make across Doncaster.

Showcasing Volunteering Opportunities

The event also provided a valuable platform for local organisations to promote volunteering opportunities and engage with people who may be interested in becoming involved in their communities.

With more than 50 organisations represented, attendees were able to find out about a wide range of volunteering opportunities, community activities and ways to get involved. This created opportunities for people to make new connections, discover organisations they may not previously have been aware of and consider how their own skills, interests and experience could benefit their local community.

The event therefore supported both volunteer recognition and volunteer recruitment, while strengthening connections between organisations and the communities they serve.

Entertainment and Celebration

Entertainment played an important role in making the event a welcoming and enjoyable celebration rather than simply an information and recruitment event.

A particular highlight was the closing performance by the Edlington Community Organisation (ECO) choir, which had received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024. Their performance provided a fitting conclusion to the event and further demonstrated the talent, commitment and community spirit that exists within Doncaster’s voluntary sector.

Overall Impact

The “Together We Thrive” event provided an opportunity to bring people together to celebrate volunteering, recognise the contribution of volunteers and showcase the strength and diversity of Doncaster’s VCF sector.

By bringing more than 50 organisations together in one venue, the event created opportunities for networking, collaboration, volunteer recruitment and community engagement. It also provided a positive and visible celebration of the people who give their time, skills and experience to support others and improve their communities.

The event demonstrated the importance of creating opportunities where volunteers, community organisations and residents can come together, share experiences and make new connections. It reinforced the message that volunteering is an important part of building stronger, more connected and resilient communities across Doncaster.

“Together We Thrive” was therefore both a celebration of the contribution already being made by volunteers and an opportunity to encourage more people to discover the benefits of volunteering and become involved in their local communities.

See the full video here

https://youtu.be/XGEWl_VZoSk