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Volunteers’ Week celebrations are set to be hot this year with the annual event coinciding with the Olympic Torch Relay.
On a visit to Northern Ireland, 2000 Olympic triple jump champion and former World record holder, Jonathan Edwards, met with participants on Volunteer Now’s GoldMark programme, which promotes young people volunteering in sport.
“The impact of volunteers in sport and major events cannot be underestimated,” said Edwards.
“I am delighted to meet such an intelligent and motivational group of young people and to hear about their involvement in volunteering through sports. I am thrilled to hear that some of them are also torchbearers for the Northern Ireland leg of the Olympic Torch Relay taking place during Volunteers’ Week.”
Wendy Osborne OBE, Chief Executive, Volunteer Now said: “We are delighted that the Olympic Torch Relay is taking place during our annual Volunteers’ Week celebrations.
“Many of the 600 torchbearers in Northern Ireland are volunteers in our communities — part of the 282,000 volunteers across the country who are involved in activities such as fundraising, sport and community groups.
“We are looking forward to cheering all volunteers during this special time when the world’s spotlight will be on Northern Ireland.”
She added, “Our theme for Volunteers' Week is Celebrating Local Heroes. We believe that all those people who give up their time to volunteer are local heroes — making a positive impact on the lives of people and communities.”
To find out more about Volunteers' Week or an opportunity in your community visit www.volunteernow.co.uk
