Volunteers' Week celebrates the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK.
The celebration starts on the first Monday in June every year. It's a chance to recognise, celebrate and thank the UK's incredible volunteers for all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector and society as a whole.
This year we met with some of our incredible volunteers in Thurrock. They shared their stories, telling us why they volunteer and what it is about being a volunteer that makes them feel such a sense of pride and purpose.
Sue
We spoke with Sue about why she volunteers at Thurrock Museum.
"I love sorting through the maps because they've got maps going back over 100 years of the various areas of Thurrock. In fact, way over 100 years as the oldest one I know they've got is from 1593. There's a great atmosphere, great people and we all just work together well as a team."
Stephen
We spoke with Stephen about why he volunteers at Grangewaters Outdoor Education Centre.
"I was thinking about what I could do, what my interests were and I just thought about it and I thoroughly enjoy being outdoors. I enjoy working with young people. Here at Grangewaters I come in, I'm part of the team, I interact with all the staff members and the other volunteers down here."
Thurrock Foodbank
We also visited Thurrock Foodbank, a vital resource that helps families in the borough who have found themselves in crisis. Thurrock Foodbank can only do this thanks to its dedicated volunteers.
The work they do can range from collecting donations to driving delivery vans and preparing parcels for families.
Leah
We spoke to Leah (photo below) about why she volunteers at Thurrock Museum.
"I help with the collections and social media and have also been involved in helping prepare for the recent exhibition. I decided to volunteer as traditional higher education environments were not for me and didn't suit my needs.
"But here at the library I get to work with friendly, knowledgeable people whilst also learning about Thurrock's history. I would recommend becoming a volunteer to anyone. You can pick your own days and hours of work, and with the museum currently working towards reaccreditation, we could really do with the extra help!"
Jo
We spoke to Jo (photo below) about why she volunteers at Purfleet Community Hub.
"The Hub is a community space that we set up for local residents to come along and meet us and each other and access council services. We have weekly visits from Housing and Citizens' Advice, plus facilities such as a community pantry and are in the process of setting up a café.
"We also offer free school uniforms for local schools in Purfleet.
"When I came to the area I didn't know many people and my mental health wasn't good, but through the Hub I have built friendships with people who I would never have otherwise met. We call ourselves one big dysfunctional family!
"If you are thinking about volunteering I would say just do it! You gain so much from it, it has given me a real sense of purpose."
Volunteering opportunities
If you feel inspired by these stories, there is a range of rich and rewarding volunteering opportunities for you to discover.