National Volunteers Week 2019
Lichfield Cathedral awarded Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in a week cathedrals say thank you to all their volunteers.
The Queen has honoured Lichfield Cathedral with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in the week our cathedrals say thank you to their unsung armies of volunteers.
Lichfield is the second cathedral to achieve what is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK recognising outstanding work in their communities. Salisbury Cathedral was awarded the QAVS in 2016.
Lichfield Cathedral is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year and the announcement yesterday (Sun 2 June) comes at the start of National Volunteer Week when many of our cathedrals will host their own events – from special services to tea parties – to say thank you to all those who give their time to support their cathedrals.
Thousands of volunteers serve our cathedrals including flower-arrangers, tomb-dusters, tea-mashers, servers, tour guides, bellringers, welcomers, cake-bakers, stewards and everything else in between.All are experts in their own fields and give their time freely to ensure that cathedral services and events run smoothly and both visitors and worshippers enjoy the best possible experience when they come to our cathedrals.
Peterborough Cathedral is marking Volunteers Week (from 1-7 June) with a call for people to come forward and help out in a range of different volunteering roles.
The cathedral is looking for new volunteers to join the team of Welcomers, train as Tower Tour Guides, staff the Cathedral Visitor Centre, help with gardening, provide office support and serve in the Cathedral Shop.
Find out more here.
Birmingham Cathedral is featuring a different volunteer every day this week on their social media to say thank you to their team, starting with Alison Paris who is a deputy warden.
A spokesperson for Birmingham Cathedral said
“At Birmingham Cathedral we are extremely fortunate to have an army of volunteers who help make the cathedral a welcoming place.
Whether it’s bellringing, cleaning, refreshments, singing in the choir, tour and education guides or helping with the young people who visit the cathedral – our volunteers and the time they give, creates an incredible impact.“
You can read all about Birmingham volunteers here.
A spokesperson for the Association of English Cathedrals said:
“Our volunteers are our lifeblood. Each and every one plays a significant role in the life of our cathedrals. They are an extraordinary group of individuals, who give of their time and talents generously. They are an example to us all.”
Keep an eye on our social media @engcathedrals to share in saying thank you to our volunteers.
