The 2018 Volunteers’ Week, celebrating and promoting volunteers, is fast approaching.

The annual event sets out to connect people who want to donate their time to charities and organisations as well as celebrating the contributions made by these groups.

Allowing individuals who may have time they wish to give, but haven’t yet found a charity or have been unaware of how to go about volunteering to get involved.

Alison Lester, from the organising committee said: ’Volunteers make a difference every day.

Indeed many organisations could not function effectively without their commitment.’

The event therefore also functions as an opportunity for charities and organisations to celebrate the contribution of all volunteers and raise their profile.

Alison said: ’We are extremely lucky on the Isle of Man that people give their time so freely for the benefit of others.

’The social interactions volunteering provides cannot be underestimated.

’The success of that event demonstrated that an annual event of this kind is very much needed.

’Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers make across the Isle of Man.’

The week begins with The Big Volunteer Recruitment Event on Saturday, February 24, 10am-2pm, held in the Sefton Hotel Garden Room.

The event was also held at the Sefton last year, where nearly 500 people mixed with over 30 charities and organisations, discovering volunteer activities and opportunities.

Previous years has been attended and seen some recruitment for charities like RNLI, Ramsey Coastguard, Army Cadets, The Samaritans, MPSCA, Girl Guides and many more.

This year, groups already confirmed for the event include Bowel Cancer IOM, Scout Association, Housing Matters, Macular Society, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Hospice CIRCA and Southern Befrienders.

Many more are due to be announced closer to the event.

The 2018 event will once again be opened by the Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney.

She concluded: ’We are once again grateful to the Sefton Hotel who provide the Garden Room, and also for the support of Government House.’

’The event is proving more popular year on year, so if you are an organisation or charity recruiting volunteers please contact us to book your space.

’If you are thinking about becoming a volunteer, we will have over thirty organisations for you to talk through your volunteering opportunities, please join us on the day.’

For more information or to book your place at the Big Volunteer Recruitment Event, contact Alison Lester on 235233, email [email protected] or search Volunteers Week IOM on Facebook.