Volunteer's Week 2026 - Monmouthshire
- Bethan Warrington
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
It is the end of another fantastic week recognising and celebrating our volunteers, take a look to see what the Monmouthshire team got up to!
Monday 1st - the Monmouthshire Volunteer Awards Launch
What better way to recognise the people who selflessly give their time to make a difference in their community than to nominate them for an award?! This will be our third year hosting the awards in partnership with Monmouthshire Housing Association to celebrate our community champions and unsung heroes 🥳
You can find our launch video here 👉 Facebook
Our categories this year include:
Best Group – For a group or initiative showing outstanding commitment in their community
Inspirational Young Person – For the person (under the age of 25) who is positively contributing to their local community
Above and Beyond Award – For an inspiring volunteering journey
Outstanding Contribution to MHA – For an MHA tenant dedicated to helping others
Environmental Award – For those going the extra mile for the environment
Health & Wellbeing – Recognising those supporting others’ wellbeing
Lord Lieutenant's Award - Celebrating an extraordinary individual whose commitment to volunteering is making a real difference and bringing positive change to their community
If an inspiring person or project comes to mind when you read the categories, whether it’s an individual who quietly goes above and beyond, a volunteer who gives their time selflessly, or a group making a lasting impact - every nomination helps shine a light on the difference they make.😊
🔗 To submit your vote, please use this link: Monmouthshire Volunteers Awards 2026
📅 Closing date: 13th July
Tuesday 2nd - Out and About in Abergavenny & Monmouth
Kelly Sullivan and Chris Irving from our volunteering team had a busy morning visiting local groups and meeting volunteers to find out more about their activities. These visits included:
Ffrind i Mi 👉 Ffrrind i Mi
Tithe Barn Community Wellbeing Cafe 👉 Tithe Barn Community Wellbeing Cafe | Facebook
Gateway Church 👉 Gateway Church Abergavenny
Green Fingers Project 👉 GREEN FINGERS - Melville Centre Abergavenny
Men's Shed - Melville Centre Abergavenny
Digi-Caff - Wyesham Christian Fellowship
Wednesday 3rd - Knowledge Bites Webinar
As part of Volunteers’ Week, WCVA invited volunteer involving organisations across Wales to join a 90 minute Knowledge Bites webinar to listen to the learning of others, hear lived experiences, and take away practical ideas to strengthen how they welcome, include and support volunteers.
This event was especially relevant for organisations working with, or seeking to better include volunteers who are neurodivergent, have a learning disability, or have specific support requirements. It shared useful tips, advice and resources on supporting autistic and neurodivergent volunteers which highlighted small but meaningful adjustments that can make a significant difference.
Volunteering Officer, Bethan Crowley attended this event and noted some key takeaways for organisations:
When communicating, use inclusive language and respect individual preferences for this.
Look inwardly at your organisation and consider what barriers a neurodivergent volunteer might experience and what can be changed.
Provide easy read formats and check-in traffic light cards during meetings with volunteers.
All Wales People First's - An organisation that represents the voice of people with a learning disability. They have some brilliant resources that can support organisations to be more inclusive 👉 Welcome to All Wales People First - All Wales People First
Create a strengths profile with volunteers, what do they do well?
When assigning people who are neurodiverse with tasks, can they be specific to the skills you know they possess?
If volunteers visit with a support worker, try to ensure this person is consistent.
When registering volunteers, make sure they make a realistic time commitment. Start small and gradually build their hours as confidence increases.
Do not complete paperwork during a volunteer's first session as it can be overwhelming. Try to find a more suitable time for this.
Be patient and remember that the level of support a volunteer might need will likely reduce over time.
Thursday 4th - Out and about in South Monmouthshire
Bethan and Kelly popped in to local projects such as TogetherWORKS and the Palmer Centre, whom they have worked closely with over recent years.
TogetherWORKS has always been a shining example in volunteer management and we know how valued their volunteer's feel when they come to the space.
The Palmer Centre was also bustling with visitors to its cafe, which is run by volunteers. In the main hall, Department for Work and Pensions were running a Wellbeing Event in which GAVO's Education Programme for Patients' volunteers were hosting a stall. Their goal was to spread awareness of the self-management health and well-being courses and workshops they run for people living with a health condition or for those who care for someone with a health condition.
Friday 5th - Weekly Burst Volunteering Special
Every Friday, we release our Weekly Burst to our networks which includes upcoming events and activities, up to date information about services, Third Sector resources, community development updates and much more. This week we spotlighted our volunteers as Volunteer's Week provides the perfect opportunity to shine a light on their dedication, kindness and commitment. Their contribution makes a real difference to the lives of others, and quite simply, we couldn't do it without them. Thank you to every volunteer for everything you do! GAVO Monmouthshire Weekly Burst 1st- 5th June 2026
If you'd like to be added to the mailing list for our Weekly Burst, please email kelly.sullivan@gavo.org.uk
Saturday 6th - Abergavenny Arts Festival
On Saturday, Chris visited Abergavenny Arts Festival where over 1,200 people attended the wonderful event full of singing, dancing, laughing and creating!
Chris raised the profile of volunteering by speaking to a number of people including founder of Dance Blast, Kathy Young. Events such as these are a great opportunity for Kathy to showcase the talent of her students such as their Atomic dance group who then go on to volunteer by mentoring others.
Emma Bevan Chair of Abergavenny Arts Festival said:
"Despite the torrential rain I was delighted to see how many people have turned up to enjoy the festival. More than 500 have turned up within the first hour for what will be a lovely event."
To see more about how the rest of the day turned out, take a look at Abergavenny Arts Festival's reel on their Facebook page:
Other Recent Volunteering Activities
Bridges Volunteer Celebration Evening - Recognising Community Champions
The Bridges Volunteer Celebration Evening took place on the 8th June at the Drill Hall in Chepstow, bringing together volunteers, staff and community members for an inspiring evening of recognition and entertainment.
The event celebrated the remarkable contributions of volunteers from across the county who dedicate their time, skills and compassion to supporting local communities. Throughout the evening, a variety of talented acts performed, providing entertainment and helping to create a warm and uplifting atmosphere for everyone in attendance.
The celebration also acknowledged the hard work of staff and organisations who support individuals on their volunteering journeys, helping people gain confidence, develop new skills, and make meaningful connections within their communities.
A key focus of the evening was expressing gratitude to the volunteers whose commitment makes a difference to the lives of others. Their efforts continue to strengthen communities and demonstrate the positive impact that volunteering can have on both individuals and society as a whole.
For more information about the Bridges Centre and the support available for people interested in volunteering opportunities, visit: Bridges Centre Volunteering Services
New Approach to Volunteering
On the 27th and 28th May, Chris, Bethan and Stephen Tiley attended an exciting residential event in Cardiff to work on the New Approach to Volunteering. The vision of this Welsh Government backed approach is to make volunteering a national identity in Wales.
All 19 Welsh County Voluntary Councils were excited to be invited to support the development of this approach in its early stages and believe our knowledge and expertise will have provided valuable insight into the great volunteering practice we see in our local areas. Watch this space for further information on the New Approach and how GAVO will be involved going forward!
