Need volunteers? Our top tips for recruitment!

#VolunteersWeek is back Mon 1 June – Sun 7 June 2026. It’s a special time to celebrate all things volunteering! Here at GoVolHerts we honour the incredible contributions of volunteers who make our communities stronger every day. We particularly thank volunteers in Hertfordshire for all you do, however big or small, formal or informal. We love this time of year, as we rightfully put full focus on the volunteers who enable local charities, social enterprises, faith and community groups (as well as the NHS and our schools, colleges and local council services), to do the amazing work they do in keeping people safe and supported, improving health and wellbeing, inspiring learning and creativity, and so much more. There’s a lot of focus on volunteering at the moment. The United Nations designated 2026 as International Volunteer Year to highlight the vital importance of what volunteers contribute to us all. The Mayor of St Albans had a special focus on volunteering and North Herts has also determined this year to encourage everyone to ‘be the good’ . As well as recognising all that volunteers do, another reason for this focus is that volunteers are desperately needed. Statistics such as those in the Community Life survey show that not as many people volunteer regularly in formal roles as they used to, with 17% of people aged 16+ in England taking part in formal volunteering at least once per month (in the last 12 months) and 28% taking part in formal volunteering at least one time in that period. Comparing these statistics to 2013/14 when the data collection began, the respective figures were 27% and 45%, it is easy to see the problem. Meanwhile, the need for volunteers remains and has even grown, especially with the many social, economic and environmental needs we currently face. We hear from many local organisations how worried they are as to whether they’ll be able to keep doing their vital work unless they can recruit the volunteers they need. And that need goes across the board from occasional helpers, through to the trustees who are at the core of what a charity does. Here at GoVolHerts we’re lucky to see a much rosier side of the picture too: the thousands of people who want to volunteer and love to volunteer! In fact the national data shows that most people who volunteer really enjoy and value their volunteering. In Time Well Spent 2023 | NCVO report, 92% of volunteers surveyed said they were fairly or very satisfied with their volunteering experience. They reported many benefits of their volunteering. Their most commonly cited benefits from volunteering were: I enjoy it 89% It makes me feel I’m making a difference 89% It gives me a sense of personal achievement 88% I meet new people 87% It broadens my experience of life 81% It improves my mental health and wellbeing 75% It brings me into contact with people from different backgrounds or cultures 74% It gives me more confidence 73% It gives me new skills and experience 72% It helps me feel less isolated 68% GoVolHerts is visited by thousands of people each year who are looking to find out more about volunteering or to start a new volunteering role. We now have well over 11,000 volunteers registered . Last year we had over 600,000 page views in total on our website, with more than 4,000 new volunteers creating an account. Over 5,600 volunteering applications were made directly through GoVolHerts and we enabled many more non-profit organisations to connect with people who want to help. There are so many different things that volunteers can get involved with and we’re always excited to see this range of opportunities expanding. We now have 650 organisations using our platform to look for volunteers and last year nearly 800 new opportunities to volunteer were created on GoVolHerts. It’s our goal to have something for everyone! And we invite everyone to get involved. There’s no one way to volunteer and GoVolHerts helps people to find the opportunity that works for them. If you’re still thinking about volunteering and not sure how best to get involved, we can help in so many ways! Browse for opportunities that suit you or come to our Hertfordshire Volunteer Fair on 5 June 2026 to meet over 30 amazing local charities looking for new volunteers. If that date or location isn’t convenient for you, check out other events happening around Herts this month on our Events page . And you can always learn more about volunteering and opportunities to volunteer through our youtube videos and volunteer stories . If you’re keen to get going but want to know more about how to find the right opportunity on GoVolHerts or what might happen after you express an interest in a volunteering opportunity, join us online on 3 June 2026 at 6pm for a short Introduction to Volunteering session.

Whether you're wanting to be more active as the months get warmer or you have some more time over Easter and in the coming weeks, it’s the perfect time to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and take part in something meaningful. Spending time outdoors has a powerful impact on both physical and mental wellbeing and combining that with volunteering makes it even more rewarding. The Easter and half term holidays are also a great chance for families to get involved together. Outdoor volunteering doesn’t have to be complicated, and there are lots of child-friendly opportunities that allow young people to take part while having fun at the same time. For example, families could help with a local park clean-up, plant flowers in a community garden, take part in a litter-picking walk, support at an arts and crafts event or get involved in local fundraising. Activities like these help children learn about teamwork, caring for the environment and giving back to their community in a positive way. Outdoor opportunities can also help young people build confidence and new skills. Children and teenagers might learn basic gardening skills, get involved in simple environmental projects or help organise small outdoor activities for others. Whilst many of our opportunities are aimed at those 18+, there is nothing to stop you from reaching out to any of our organisations to ask if they have any family friendly activities. For those looking for more regular outdoor volunteering, why not check out some of these opportunities across Hertfordshire? Flopsy Wood Community Project CIC A community project offering arts, crafts and holistic events within a large wooded area in Broxbourne. Currently looking for: Volunteer Gardener/Handyperson Hertfordshire Health Walks Hertfordshire initiative to get people outdoors and active through group walking activities. Currently looking for: Health Walk Support Volunteers Herts Welcomes Refugees A charity offering support and services to the county's refugees and asylum seekers, alongside Refugee Council's Hertfordshire Resettlement Project. Currently looking for: Bike Delivery Driver Mencap Nationwide charity supporting people with learning difficulties and their families to thrive and live life through activities and groups. Currently looking for: Mate and Gym Buddy Royal Gunpowder Mills A heritage site and visitor attraction exploring the history of gunpowder and explosives, relying on volunteers to preserve and share its work. Currently looking for: Mini Railway Crew Nature Conservationist Building and Site Maintenance Therfield Regulation Trust A charity that supports and maintains Therfield Heath, a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest in North Hertfordshire. Currently looking for: Habitat Management Wimpole National Trust Owned and managed by the National Trust, Wimpole is a busy working estate with a farm, 18th Century mansion house surrounded by gardens and parkland, shop, second hand books shop, cafes and a restaurant. Currently looking for: Litter Picker There are many more opportunities for you!

Each year on World Theatre Day , people around the world celebrate the creativity, storytelling and community that theatre brings to our lives. The day highlights the importance of theatre in all its forms and encourages people to support and take part in the performing arts. Celebrating theatre is not just celebrating those that grace its stages, but also those that work behind the scenes. Performers cannot perform without the likes of sound and light technicians, musicians, composers, script-writers, producers but also volunteers that help to bring the stage to life. One of the most powerful ways to support theatre is through volunteering. Many theatres and arts organisations rely on volunteers to help bring performances to life; from welcoming audiences and helping with ticketing to supporting productions behind the scenes and youth groups and clubs that engage younger audiences to encourage creativity and exploration. These roles are essential to keeping shows running smoothly and making theatre accessible to the community. Volunteering in theatre can also be a rewarding experience. It’s a chance to meet new people, develop skills like teamwork and communication, and experience the excitement of live performances from the inside. Roles can vary widely, including front-of-house support, event assistance, marketing, production help, and community engagement. If you’re inspired by World Theatre Day, it’s the perfect time to get involved! Whether you’re passionate about the arts or just looking to try something new, volunteering with local theatre and performance organisations is a great way to support culture in your community while gaining valuable experience. Explore Hertfordshire's volunteer opportunities within theatre here: