On Saturday 6 June, organisations from across Sunderland came together at City Hall to celebrate Volunteers‘ Week and recognise the incredible contribution volunteers make to communities across the city.
The event brought together volunteers, staff and community leaders for a morning of networking, celebration and conversation, accompanied by a special performance from a string trio from Sunderland Symphony Orchestra.
The celebration was an opportunity to thank volunteers for the time, energy, skills and care they give to Sunderland’s cultural, community, sporting and voluntary sectors, while also creating connections between organisations working with volunteers across the city.
We were pleased to welcome The Deputy Mayor of the City of Sunderland, Councillor Jannine Morrow, and the Deputy Consort of the City of Sunderland, George Morrow, for their first public engagement in these roles. The Deputy Mayor addressed attendees and thanked volunteers for their invaluable contribution to life in Sunderland.
We were also delighted to welcome Sunderland Youth MP Shaun Hair, alongside representatives and volunteers from:
- City Volunteers and Sunderland Culture
- Pallion Action Group
- Easington Lane Community Access Point
- Public Health and Health Champions
- Sunderland BID
- Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance
- Culture House
- Sunderland Riverside
- Just Let Your Soul Grow
- Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
- Back on the Map
- Foundation of Light
- MCR Pathways
- Not a Statistic North East
- Hope4All CIC
- Game of II Halves
- Seventeen Nineteen
- National Literacy Trust
The event highlighted the breadth and diversity of volunteering activity taking place across Sunderland, from supporting young people and improving health and wellbeing, to strengthening communities, championing culture and welcoming visitors to the city.
The morning concluded with the largest ever group tour of Culture House, which was a fantastic way to round off the celebration.
The celebration was delivered with support from City Volunteers, Culture House, CoLab and National Literacy Trust.
City Volunteers is led by Sunderland Culture in partnership with Sunderland BID, Foundation of Light and Culture House, with support from the North East Combined Authority. The programme aims to create meaningful, well-supported volunteering opportunities that contribute positively to Sunderland’s cultural, sporting and community life.
