By Rachel Mason, Community Wellbeing Manager, Cambridgeshire ACRE

Volunteers’ Week is always a special moment in our calendar—a chance to pause, reflect and recognise the incredible people who make our work possible across rural Cambridgeshire. This year was no exception so I want to share my reflections on the week and acknowledge our wonderful volunteers and all that they do.

 

Monday 1 June – Sunday 7 June 2026 was  Volunteers’ Week: an opportunity across the UK to honour the outstanding contributions that volunteers make to strengthen our communities.

 

Throughout the week, we took the opportunity to celebrate our volunteers in a variety of ways. We sent personalised thank you emails to volunteers across six different programmes, sharing our appreciation for the time, skills and compassion they give so generously. We also highlighted volunteer stories across the week, shining a light on the real difference people are making in their communities every day. Alongside this, we published a blog celebrating volunteer impact and delivered a social media campaign across Facebook and LinkedIn, helping us recognise hundreds of volunteers and the vital role they play in building stronger, more connected rural communities.

A real highlight of the week was our Volunteers’ Week thank you event. We were delighted to welcome 48 volunteers for an afternoon of conversation and food at The Maltings in Ely. It was a wonderful opportunity for us as a team to connect, share experiences and simply say thank you in person. It was also lovely to see volunteers taking some extra time together to chat over an ice-cream or pint!

One moment I will particularly treasure was sharing that, in the past year, more than 56,000 visits were made to our community hubs. Looking around the room, I could see volunteers recognising the vital contribution they make to their communities every day. It was wonderful to see people feeling rightly proud of what they have achieved together.

We were also pleased to be joined by colleagues from the Fenland Cancer Champion project, who kindly sponsored the event and provided information and guidance about support available in Fenland for people affected by cancer.

One volunteer who attended the event shared:

“It was so lovely to be invited along and meet others involved. You don’t always realise how many people are part of this work, and it really made me feel valued and proud to be part of it.”

 

What stood out most across the week was the sheer variety and impact of volunteering we see at Cambridgeshire ACRE. From running community hubs and supporting village halls, to offering digital support or raising awareness around health and wellbeing, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do.

Volunteers’ Week gave us the chance to recognise that contribution—but our thanks extend far beyond one week. To every volunteer who gives their time to support others and strengthen rural communities: thank you. We couldn’t do this without you.

What Volunteers’ Week reminded me is that strong rural communities do not happen by accident. They are built by people who are willing to give their time, share their skills and support their neighbours. We see that spirit every day through our volunteers, and it is something worth celebrating.

Are you interested in volunteering at Cambridgeshire ACRE? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Check out our website Cambridgeshire ACRE • About • Volunteering with us to find out what opportunities are available near you.