Celebrating Our Volunteers

We recently hosted a Volunteer Celebration at The Regency Hotel to express our gratitude and appreciation for the incredible contributions made by our dedicated volunteers.

The event included a delightful afternoon tea, a raffle, and a special presentation of certificates to recognise the longstanding commitment of volunteers, two of whom have been with the charity for an impressive 26 years.

The celebration was attended by 72 guests, including the Mayor of Solihull, Cllr Shahin Ashraf MBE, who joined volunteers, our CEO Anne Hastings, our Volunteer Manager Ashlee Young, and other members of staff.

Among the volunteer guests were Age UK Solihull Trustees, Club Helpers/Drivers, Befrienders, Office Volunteers, Community Advice Hubs Volunteers, Digital Champions, Shop Helpers, and PSI Drivers/Class Helpers. It was an extra special occasion for the volunteers of the PSI (Postural Stability Instruction) project, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

Our volunteers are essential to our charity’s mission of improving the lives of older and vulnerable residents in the community. Since the beginning of this year, an average of 161 volunteers each month have dedicated over 10,000 hours of their time in total, contributing more than £130,000 in added value to the charity. Last year, Age UK Solihull supported 7,825 Solihull residents, many of whom accessed more than one of our services. This would not have been possible without the unwavering commitment of Age UK Solihull volunteers.

Our Volunteer Manager, Ashlee Young, expressed her appreciation, saying: "It was an absolute pleasure to host this event and show our gratitude to the volunteers who are the backbone of our charity. Their dedication and compassion make a real difference to the lives of older and vulnerable people across the Solihull borough. We are incredibly proud of the 350 volunteers who give their time each month and of the fact that they have collectively contributed over 10,000 hours so far this year. We simply couldn’t do what we do without them. I’d also like to extend a special thanks to The Regency Hotel for their excellent hospitality."

The event also featured a successful raffle that raised £277 to help us to continue to provide advice, companionship and practical support to Solihull residents when they need us.

Volunteers enjoyed the event, sending us comments such as:

“Thank you for a lovely afternoon. It makes you so proud to be a volunteer.”

“It was great meeting new faces and surprising to see how many volunteer."

“A lovely afternoon celebratory tea, thank you indeed."

“I thought the smiles and friendly service of the Regency team excellent, while you [Ashlee] and colleagues patiently networked the room!”

Age UK Solihull is always looking for new volunteers to join their team and help make a difference in the community. For more information contact Ashlee on 0121 704 7843 or volunteering@ageuksolihull.org.uk or click below.

Volunteering