Ahead of National Volunteers Week, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Cllr Martin Hill has thanked everyone who volunteers for good causes in Lincolnshire.
For National Volunteers Week every year I write to thank all county council volunteers for their hard work and service to Lincolnshire communities.
And this year is no different. But I also want to extend my thanks to everyone in the county who has offered their time to help others in some capacity during the last year. In the last twelve months this has been particularly challenging – and so I'm thankful to every one of you who has done some form of volunteering, and risen to that challenge.
Council services have had to adapt and change in the last year so that we can either continue them, or re-open in a COVID-secure way. Our volunteers have shown flexibility and have always been willing to help us in doing that, and this has been truly heartening.
Volunteers across Lincolnshire have often been the unsung heroes in supporting others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 6,000 people in Lincolnshire registered as NHS volunteers, and Town and Parish Councils, Food Banks and Good Neighbour Schemes quickly increased their activity too.
Hundreds of people have volunteered at vaccination centres providing a warm welcome and ensuring everything has run smoothly. Others have checked in on and run errands for neighbours.
Around 600 new COVID-19 community groups were set up providing a wide range of support, and we supported many of those through our councillor grant scheme.
British Red Cross, Faith Responders, 4x4 vehicle groups, and many more came together on behalf of the council and its partners to deliver emergency food parcels, transport test kits and samples between care homes and labs, and carry out door-knocking where people needed help.
Every single volunteer has made a positive difference to someone's life in this very difficult time and should be hugely proud of what they have done.
Whatever your reason for volunteering with the county council or other groups, we hope that you will continue to find it rewarding and enriching.
Opportunities to volunteer with the council are diverse and can help you meet new people and enhance your skills, as well as helping others.
If you'd like to get in touch about any aspect of volunteering with us or find out more, please email volunteers@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Martin Hill OBE
Leader of the Council