Emmanuel House marks Volunteers’ Week 2026

Volunteers’ Week returns this year for the 42^nd year. From Monday 1 to Sunday 7 June 2026, Emmanuel House will join thousands of charities and voluntary organisations in recognising the contribution volunteers make.

Running every year since 1984, the week provides a crucial opportunity to thank volunteers and recognise the value of their time, passion and skills. The campaign highlights the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK.

You Make The Difference

This Volunteers’ Week, Emmanuel House is delighted to launch its new short film, “You Make The Difference – Volunteering for Emmanuel House in Nottingham”. This film showcases the amazing contribution our volunteers make every day. From helping in the charity shop or the kitchen, befriending or supporting events, every slice of toast buttered or clothing item sorted is appreciated. Every minute spent volunteering, and every task completed adds up, and volunteers’ commitment plays a vital role in everything Emmanuel House achieves. Quite simply, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them.

This video was filmed and edited by Jordan ‘Rexo’ Robinson through Ideagen’s volunteer programme, which encourages employees across the globe to volunteer their time to support local charitable organisations.

Emmanuel House CEO, Isabella Harriss said:

“Volunteers’ Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the fantastic contribution our volunteers make. Homelessness is increasing, and meeting the rising needs of our client group is harder than ever. Last year the number of visits to our day centre rose by 37%, to a total of nearly 15,000. We simply could not meet this rising challenge without the contribution of volunteers. The kindness, enthusiasm, and willingness of our volunteers to give their time is deeply appreciated. They should all be incredibly proud of the impact they’re making.”

Current volunteering opportunities

We recruit volunteers throughout the year. At the moment, we’re particularly keen to find volunteers to support us as:

• Kitchen Cook for weekday lunches at our Support Centre
• Night Shelter Food Servers for early mornings and late evenings
• Corporate group volunteers to support our weekday breakfast service.

Applying to volunteer is simple, and contacting us doesn’t commit you to anything. All applicants are welcome to visit first, take a look around and see how we work. If you’d like to take the next step, you can join us for a ‘taster’ day. This gives you a chance to meet staff, visitors and volunteers, and try out different roles to discover what suits you best.

Accommodation and Volunteer Coordinator, Lanre, said,

“I see first-hand the difference our volunteers make. They bring energy, compassion and a sense of community to the night shelter, helping residents feel welcomed, valued and supported. From sharing meals and running activities to simply having a conversation, volunteers play a vital role in creating a positive environment where people can rebuild confidence and feel connected. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication and always welcome new volunteers who want to make a difference.”

About Volunteers’ Week

Volunteers’ Week is led by the UK Volunteering Forum, a partnership between Volunteer Scotland, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and Volunteer Now in Northern Ireland.

The UK Volunteering Forum 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.”