Why they give their time and why it matters more than ever
In the rural town of Leyburn, a team of dedicated volunteers regularly transform their arts and community centre into a Friday night cinema and other monthly events too, giving residents access to everything from box office hits to thought-provoking indie films.
As one of North Yorkshire’s designated community anchor organisations, the centre plays a vital role in supporting local wellbeing and resilience. With no cinema nearby and limited public transport, the work of its volunteers helps keep the big screen experience accessible - and shows just how important volunteering is in keeping rural communities connected and inspired.
How Jimi turned experience into support
After overcoming his own battles with addiction, Jimi Wilson now spends every Thursday volunteering to support others on their recovery journey.
Using his own experiences, strength and compassion, Jimi is helping bridge the gap between clients and services across rural communities in North Yorkshire. His story is inspiring others to seek help, give back and believe change is possible.
With National Volunteers’ Week being held from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 June, we are encouraging more people to get involved and discover the difference they can make.
There are lots of different opportunities to support your community across the county. These range from using your driving skills to support vital community transport charities to helping our rights of way team to ensure public footpaths are safe and accessible.
In addition to the thousands of volunteers who support the local charities and clubs across the county, there are also more than 4,200 volunteers already supporting in excess of 20 council services, from libraries and youth justice to recycling and emergency response. Volunteering is a vital part of keeping our communities strong.
Our executive member for corporate services, whose responsibilities include stronger communities, Cllr Heather Phillips, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to all the volunteers who give their time, skills and energy to support others across North Yorkshire. Their impact is felt in every corner of our communities.
“We’d love to see even more people getting involved. Whether you have an hour a week to spare or more, there’s a role for everyone and the difference it makes is truly life changing.”
To learn more about volunteering in North Yorkshire and find opportunities near you, visit our volunteering page and the volunteer opportunities page on the Community First Yorkshire website.