Celebrating the People Who Make a Difference
National Volunteers’ Week (1st – 7th June) is an annual UK-wide campaign to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers. Volunteering is a vital component of UK society, with millions contributing their time and skills annually.
According to the latest Community Life survey data for England published in December 2025, volunteering is a major contributor to local businesses and communities:
• 17% of adults had participated in formal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 months, no significant change from 2023/24 (16%)
• 28.4% of adults had participated in formal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months, a small, but significant, increase from 2023/24 (27.8%)
• 77% of volunteers reported that volunteering improves their mental health, helps prevent isolation and brings a sense of purpose
• According to research undertaken by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, formal volunteering is valued at approximately £24.7 billion per year – and that’s just in England!
The most common reasons for formal volunteering were cited as follows:
• I wanted to improve things/help people – 46%
• I had spare time to do it – 31%
• The cause was really important to me – 29%
• I wanted to meet people/make friends – 26%
At LAT, helping volunteers feel purposeful, engaged in our services, recognised for their personal growth and celebrated for their successes are all important aspects of our volunteering and mentoring service.
Having seen the difference volunteers have made to LAT over the past 20 years, we want to ensure volunteering remains closely connected to our many wonderful projects, while also supporting volunteers to achieve the personal goals and aspirations they hope to gain from their volunteering experience.
We are proud to see a strong link between volunteering and career growth. Over the years many of our volunteers have progressed into roles at LAT or other organisations within the criminal justice system. We have recently recruited two full-time members of staff who started their journey with us as volunteers.
We asked some of our volunteers about their personal values and what’s important to them in volunteering:
• “I want to make a difference to people who need help”
• “I am really interested in supporting those who need it”
• “I understand what it’s like to have barriers, but I want to help people overcome them like I did”
• “I find reward in helping others achieve their goals and dreams”
If you’re considering volunteering with LAT, here are some insights from one of our dedicated volunteers about their journey and why it has been worthwhile:
How long have you been a volunteer at LAT?
I have been volunteering with LAT since October 2024.
What made you want to volunteer and why at LAT?
It was LAT that gave me direction following my custodial sentence. At that time, I felt lost and alone, but I looked up to the practitioners at LAT and truly valued the support they gave me. Volunteering became my way of giving something back.
Has LAT helped you with your personal goals and has this motivated you to become a volunteer?
I am a completely different person now compared to who I was before volunteering. LAT has supported me in achieving my goals by helping to ease some of my anxiety and build my confidence. This motivated me to become a volunteer and I continue to grow and develop week by week.
What have been your key successes at LAT as a volunteer?
One of my greatest successes has been building meaningful connections with the women I support through my volunteer role. They can relate to me on many different levels, including through my lived experience.
I was also offered the opportunity to complete mentor training for LAT, which I have now done. I’m looking forward to seeing how this role develops for me, as it is quite different from volunteering within groups. Some of the women I support come with very difficult challenges, but as they get to know me better, they often tell me that I inspire them. Hearing that truly melts my heart.
If someone asked you if they should volunteer with LAT, what would you tell them?
Without volunteering, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I would not be in the position I am in today. Sometimes, all someone really needs is a listening ear. If you can spare even a few hours a week, I would encourage you to give it a try. The experience brings so many positives and you may find it becomes one of the most rewarding things you ever do.
If you are inspired by these stories and are interested in volunteering with LAT, we would love to hear from you!
We offer volunteering opportunities across various locations in Lincolnshire, both in prisons and in the community.
To learn more about our volunteer vacancies and how you can get involved, visit our website.
Alternatively, you can email volunteering@LATcharity.org or call a member of the team on 01522 806611.
