It’s Volunteers Week!
We know that many disabled people or people with health conditions want to be more active but often lack confidence, don’t know where to go or how to find accessible activities. Our Get Out Get Active volunteer mentors work one to one with a disabled person to support them to overcome some of these barriers and to get active. Many of the mentors themselves have a disability or health condition. All mentors across London and Bradford were sent a certificate and invited to a Summer Social in June to say thank you for their contribution, to mark Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1-7 June.
Get Out Get Active (GOGA) is an exciting programme that supports disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together. Funded by Spirit of 2012, all partners are focused on getting some of the UK's least active people moving more through fun and inclusive activities.
Kate Pieroudis, GOGA Peer Support Lead said: “We want to say a huge thank you to our fabulous volunteer mentors in London, Bradford and Thanet who have supported someone to get active. Mentors go along with someone to an activity, provide support and motivation and help build someone’s confidence but more than this, mentoring can be a lifeline. Thanks to their support, more disabled people have the confidence to get active, know where to go to find accessible activities they want to do and experience better health overall as a result!”
“We’d love to hear from anyone who is interested in finding out more about GOGA Peer Support project” To get in touch contact Kate Pieroudis at Disability Rights UK on 07715 960 710 or kate.pieroudis@disabilityrightsuk.org
Volunteers are central to the work of countless charities and other organisations. They are a valuable presence in many communities, making a difference in places as diverse as sports clubs, libraries, schools and hospitals.
Thousands of volunteers will be celebrated at events across the country to mark Volunteers' Week. The annual campaign, which was established in 1984, recognises the contribution volunteers make to our communities every day. Last year more than 900 events took place, from awards ceremonies to tea parties and barbecues.
To find out more about GOGA visit www.gogapeersupport.org
Volunteering facts
- In 2015, volunteering output contributed an estimated £22.6bn to the UK economy. This is equivalent to approximately 1.2% of GDP.
- In 2016/17, 19.8 million (37%) people in the UK volunteered formally at least once a year and 11.9 million (22%) of people did so at least once a month.
- There are 165,801 voluntary organisations in the UK, many of whom rely on volunteers.
- Lots of volunteering also takes place within the public and private sector. For example, there are an estimated 3 million people volunteering in health and care.
For more statistics visit https://data.ncvo.org.uk/a/almanac17/volunteering-overview/
Ends.
For media enquiries, contact Kate Pieroudis on 07715 960 710 or kate.pieroudis@disabilityrightsuk.org
Notes to editors
Get Out Get Active
- This unique programme aims to increase demand for, and the accessibility of, existing provision in local authorities, sports clubs and the voluntary sector by responding to key motivators and drivers for becoming physically active.
- It aims to reach those with the greatest need, contributing to measurable health and wellbeing benefits for individuals and stronger, more cohesive and active societies. It offers genuinely inclusive opportunities for everyone.
- GOGA runs for over three years (2016-2019) and within 18 localities across the UK. We have teamed up with an extensive range of partners to help us reach more people, who have the greatest need to get out and get active. These partners offer in-depth local knowledge and national expertise.
- Beyond the immediate scope of GOGA, we are committed to support participants engaged in the programme to remain “active for life”, enable partners to provide a sustainable mainstream inclusive offer and share with others our findings to inform future practice and investment.
Spirit of 2012
- Spirit of 2012 is a funding charity, established by the Big Lottery Fund with a £47m endowment from the National Lottery. Spirit was founded to continue and recreate the spirit of pride, positivity and social connectedness that people experienced during the London 2012 Games.
- Spirit funds projects that bring people together – to learn something new, do something different, or experience something unique – and that leave behind a social legacy of increased wellbeing at an individual level, as well as happier and more connected communities.
- For more information as well as up-to-date news on all Spirit’s projects and funding opportunities, go to https://www.spiritof2012.org.uk/
