01 Jun VolunteerTorbay.com is now live

Charities and voluntary organisations are challenging businesses across Torbay to get involved in recruiting, celebrating, and thanking volunteers.

To mark Volunteers’ Week, which runs from June 1st to June 7th, a new web landing page linking to Torbay Together is being launched to encourage more volunteering and signpost volunteering opportunities.

VolunteerTorbay.com boasts a world of opportunities for people to get involved and for organisations to advertise their vacancies, ranging from back-room admin to driving community buses.

Alongside the new initiative, businesses and individuals are being encouraged to display new logos bearing the words “Proud to Support VolunteerTorbay.com” or for volunteers, “Proud to be a VolunteerTorbay.com”.

Every year across the Bay, thousands of volunteering hours are spent ensuring voluntary and charitable organisations continue to thrive and events are able to continue.

National research has shown that Volunteering can be very rewarding and is a great way to:

• Meet new people
• Gain new or use existing skills
• Get experience
• Make a big difference in your community

During COVID more than 1,700 people came forward with offers of help for friends, neighbours, and even strangers, and this new initiative aims to build on that.

Amanda Moss of the Torbay Health and Wellbeing Voluntary Sector Network said: “Volunteers are at the heart of so much that goes on in Torbay and many organisations simply could not survive without them,

“We want to put volunteers and volunteering front and centre. Volunteers should be very proud of what they do and we need to ensure that their contribution is not just recognised, but is celebrated.

“Employers are key and we hope they will encourage their employees to get involved and support them when they do.

“We are hoping that no matter what line the employers are in – business, statutory authorities, charities, and the voluntary sector – they will get behind this initiative as volunteering is something to be celebrated and appreciated.”

Cllr Hayley Tranter, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health, and Equalities for Torbay Council, said: “Together with our voluntary sector partners, we want more people to get involved in volunteering across Torbay. There are many volunteering opportunities in our communities – often in sectors people might not think need volunteers. Volunteering has many benefits, not only to the people who are receiving the support but those who give their time and find it immensely rewarding.  

“Even if you’ve got just 30 minutes a week to spare – Volunteer Torbay would love to hear from you.”

The new landing page can be found at VolunteerTorbay.com, and will be updated regularly.