Make the Most of Volunteers’ Week: 9 Easy Website Updates to Celebrate and Recruit
- kmunn87
- May 26
- 5 min read
Updated: May 27
Volunteers’ Week (1st-7th June) is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate your existing volunteers, attract new ones, and showcase the incredible work they (and you) do. Your website plays a huge role in this, acting as a hub for volunteer recruitment and appreciation.
Volunteers are the backbone of many charities, providing essential support that helps organisations fulfill their missions and make a real impact. Without the dedication and selflessness of volunteers, many charities would struggle to deliver their services or reach their full potential. Volunteers bring a wide range of skills, perspectives, and energy, enriching the work of a charity and ensuring that it remains community-focused and responsive to those it serves.
They bring a wide range of skills, perspectives, and energy, keeping the work of a charity community-focused and responsive. And let’s be honest they are often the ones keeping the lights on and the coffee flowing at events!
14.2 million people in the UK have formally volunteered at least once a month (NCVO, 2024)
Who’s Volunteering in 2025?
Volunteers come from all walks of life, but current trends show a shift in who’s most likely to get involved:
Women continue to volunteer more than men, especially in roles involving care, education, and community support.
Retirees and older adults remain a strong volunteering base, thanks to their flexibility and life experience.
Young people (16–24) are more likely to volunteer through schools, universities, or social action programmes but they often need roles that fit around studies and part-time jobs.
Working-age adults are trickier to reach, largely due to time pressures and rising living costs.
What’s changed in recent years is the overall drop in volunteering numbers. In Scotland, for example, formal volunteering rates fell from 31% in 2010 to just 18% in 2023 that’s over 335,000 fewer volunteers. And charities across the UK are feeling it too.
Why People Volunteer
So, what motivates someone to give their time? Despite the decline, many individuals continue to volunteer, driven by various motivations:
Desire to Help: The most common reason for formal volunteering is the desire to improve things or help people (47%).
Spare Time: Having spare time is a significant motivator, with 32% citing it as a reason.
Personal Connection: A personal connection to the cause motivates 30% of volunteers.
Social Aspects: Meeting people and making friends (25%) and using existing skills (24%) are also notable reasons.
How to Prep Your Charity Website for Volunteers’ Week
Here are some easy updates you can make to ensure your site is working hard for you during Volunteers’ Week:
1. Make Volunteering Easy to Find
If someone lands on your website and wants to volunteer, how quickly can they sign up? If it takes more than a few clicks (or they need a map and compass), it’s time to streamline.
Make sure your volunteer page is:
Clearly linked in your main menu
Easy to understand, with a friendly call to action (e.g. “Join Our Team” or “Become a Volunteer”)
Simple to complete with short forms are your friend! No one wants to write an essay before they’ve even had a welcome email.
2. Share Real Volunteer Stories
People connect with people. Use Volunteers’ Week to spotlight the voices of those who give their time.
Ideas include:
Blog posts featuring volunteer interviews
Testimonials dotted throughout your site
A ‘Day in the Life’ video to bring their experience to life (it doesn’t have to be Hollywood quality, younger audiences actually trust phone footage more!)
3. Say Thank You Loud and Proud
Your current volunteers deserve some love too! Update your website with:
A dedicated thank-you page or blog post
A photo gallery or video montage of volunteers in action
A special message from your charity’s leadership
4. Refresh Your Volunteer FAQs
Answer the questions potential volunteers are actually asking. A good FAQ section should be:
Easy to find from your volunteer page
Clear about expectations and commitments
Honest about what’s involved (the good and the not-so-glamorous)
Cover things like:
What roles are available?
Do I need experience?
How much time is expected?
Will I get any training or support?
5. Showcase your volunteer impact
Try adding a section that highlights:
The number of volunteers you currently have
What they’ve helped achieve (e.g. “Last year, volunteers packed 1,200 care packages for local families”)
A few powerful quotes or statistics
According to NCVO’s latest report, the most common reasons for volunteering are to make a difference (46%), help others (31%), and use personal skills (27%). When you show the impact, you tap directly into those motivations.
6. Optimise for Mobile
Most people will find your website via their phone especially younger volunteers or those hearing about you on social media.
Do a quick check:
Are buttons easy to tap?
Is your form user-friendly on a small screen?
Does the page load quickly?
If not, it’s time for a spring clean.
7. Highlight Volunteers Week on your Homepage
Don’t be shy shout about it! For that one week, your homepage should proudly display a:
Banner or announcement bar
Pop-up invite to “Join Our Team”
Link to a thank-you post or event
Even a simple message like “We ❤️ our volunteers – Happy Volunteers’ Week!” adds warmth and purpose.
8. Use Social Proof to Encourage Sign-Ups
Volunteering is contagious (in a good way). When people see others getting involved, they’re more likely to do the same.
Add elements like:
A live ticker of sign-ups (“Jordan just signed up to help with our summer fair!”)
A counter showing the number of active volunteers
A feed of your Instagram or Facebook shoutouts
9. Give Visitors Other Ways to Stay Connected
Not everyone is ready to commit on the spot. Make sure your website offers easy next steps:
Follow buttons for social media
A simple email newsletter sign-up
Links to behind-the-scenes blogs, so they can learn more at their own pace
Every connection counts, even the slow-burn ones.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
Volunteers’ Week is a brilliant excuse to refresh your website, but these changes will benefit you long after June. A well-structured volunteer page builds trust, saves admin time, and brings new energy to your charity.
Need Help Updating Your Website for Volunteers’ Week?
Feeling swamped with tasks? Struggling to find time for content? You’re not alone.
Many small charities I work with find it tricky to:
Come up with fresh content every month
Know what to prioritise on their homepage
Keep things up to date without a dedicated comms team
That’s exactly why I offer ongoing support from quick homepage edits to regular content planning, blog writing, and awareness week prep. You don’t need to do it all alone.
Ready for your website to actually help you this Volunteers’ Week? Let’s chat about how I can support you with monthly updates that take the stress away.
