Volunteers Add £1.5 Million in Value Each Year

With more than 800 volunteers supporting council services across the region – from youth work and museums to countryside access and community resilience – the estimated value of their time and effort is more than £1.5 million annually. 

Dumfries and Galloway Council is also the first full council in the UK to achieve the prestigious Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation – a mark of excellence in volunteer management and recognition.

Council Leader Gail MacGregor said:

“Volunteers’ Week is a valuable opportunity to recognise and thank the many individuals who give their time and energy to support our council services and local communities.

“Our volunteers contribute in countless ways – from helping to deliver major events like Youth Beatz, to leading gentle movement sessions that promote wellbeing, cataloguing archives to safeguard our local heritage and taking part in community clean-ups to enhance the places we live. Each and every one plays an essential role in enriching life across Dumfries and Galloway.”

A spokesperson for the UK Volunteering Forum, which leads on Volunteers’ Week, said:

“Volunteers bring a richness to organisations across the country. There is no better time to recognise the diversity of our volunteers and celebrate the difference that volunteering makes than during Volunteers’ Week. Without volunteers many charities just simply could not function, with so many people giving up their time and going above and beyond. The week is a chance for all of us to show just how vital they are to charities and communities everywhere.”

The council will celebrate Volunteers’ Week by sharing stories from across its services, recognising outstanding contributions and encouraging more residents to consider getting involved.