Walk to celebrate the work of Rotherham volunteers

Members of the Voluntary Action Rotherham team will join other volunteers on the walk on Tuesday afternoon as part of National Volunteers' Week.

They will be in the town centre between 1.30pm and 2.20pm.

A VAR spokeswoman said: “We are expecting about 200 people to take part, including local volunteers, service users who have benefited directly from volunteer support and the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham.

“A lot of people living and working in the town may not realise that approximately 20,000 volunteers, trustees and committee members contribute about 243,000 hours a month to services and activities that we have come to take for granted in Rotherham, whether it be putting on football training for our children, organising a litter pick in the local church yard or acting as a befrienders to our loved ones, volunteers help to make this place tick and without them we'd be pretty stuck.

“Everyone is invited to join this national celebration of volunteers and volunteering, and we’ll be kicking off with the walk through the town centre and up to Clifton Park to highlight all the thousands of amazing people in Rotherham who give up their time as volunteers.”

If you are a volunteer and would like to take part visit www.varotherham.org.uk or call 01709 834462.   

The spokeswoman added: “We’d also really like it if people shopping, studying or working in the town could show their support by giving the volunteers taking part a wave as they process through the centre.

“Whilst the town is still recovering from recent events, there is still much to celebrate and be proud of and our hope is that the walk will remind local people of this, whilst giving our army of volunteers the recognition and thanks they deserve.”