05/06/2026
Volunteers’ Week is nearly over. The social posts have gone out, the thank yous have been said. But what happens on Monday?
That’s not a cynical question, it’s an important one. Volunteers’ Week is brilliant for shining a light on the people who give their time. But the challenge for VCS organisations is turning that spotlight into something that lasts beyond seven days.
Volunteer retention is one of the most consistent pressures we hear about in the sector. People arrive with energy and goodwill, and sometimes they drift away, not because the cause stopped mattering, but because they didn’t feel connected, supported, or appreciated. The research backs this up, and so does the experience of anyone who has worked alongside volunteers for any length of time.
The good news is that the things that help volunteers stay aren’t complicated. They’re mostly about relationships. Checking in. Remembering what matters to people. Making sure volunteers know what difference their time is making. Saying – yes, again – thank you.
If this week has prompted you to think about how your organisation involves and supports volunteers, that’s exactly the right instinct. The E-Portal’s Volunteer Management section has practical guidance to help you build and maintain a volunteer programme that works, whether you’re a small community group with a handful of helpers or a larger organisation with a structured volunteering offer.
Volunteers’ Week ends on Sunday. But the work of valuing volunteers carries on every week of the year. That’s where the real impact lives.
