This week is Volunteers' Week! In recognition, we are celebrating the outstanding contribution that volunteers make to The Not Forgotten throughout the year. Giving their time, energy and enthusiasm to help ensure that veterans and service personnel feel seen, supported, and never forgotten.
Whether collecting at one of our railway station or supermarket collections around the country; manning stalls at festivals and shows; or supporting our staff at our day or week-long events: without these incredible people we would not be able to fund and facilitate our full events programme impacting over 10,000 veterans and serving personnel every year.
In 2024-25, TNF volunteers selflessly gave over 1,000 volunteering days in total between them, helping at collections and supporting our events.
This outstanding commitment is absolutely vital in raising donations, spreading awareness, and making our beneficiaries feel safe and supported at our events.
Many of these volunteers are beneficiaries of The Not Forgotten themselves and want to give back to a charity which has meant a lot to them. Others are family members, or simply people with whom our mission resonates.
Other volunteers from our corporate partners and partner organisations attend our events as teams to provide ‘on-the-ground’ assistance like handing out refreshments, their contribution forming part of their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
Not forgetting the hundreds of serving Armed Forces personnel and cadets who volunteer at our events (part of our own commitment to collaboration with the Armed Forces community and the Armed Forces Covenant) - they can often be seen setting up events, directing, assisting and reassuring guests, or performing military music.
And last but not least our entertainers who often provide their acts for free to lift the spirits of our veterans.
Every event, every smile, every moment of connection happens because volunteers chose to give up this time of theirs to others.
And it’s not all one-sided either! Volunteering can have a hugely positive impact on the volunteers themselves. As Karen, who volunteered at a Tesco collection in April, put it:
“There has been laughter, tears, banter and friendships made. I can honestly say that I have had some awesome days out with The Not Forgotten, but today was up there too. By the end of the day we had left swapping phone numbers, arranging days out, girly weekends away and with new Facebook friends too. We all chatted like we were long lost friends and I can honestly say that it was just as good fundraising as it has been spending days out having fun at other TNF events".
To every volunteer: thank you. Your impact reaches further than you know.
If you’re curious about joining our amazing volunteer community, explore our volunteering opportunities - we’d love to welcome you.
