Thousands of lives across Wales have been improved by volunteers
whose vital work has been celebrated by the Welsh Government
during national Volunteers Week.
Around 27% of people in Wales participate in formal volunteering
with charities and organisations, with countless more
contributing informally in their communities.
Since April 2022, the Welsh Government has invested over £4.6m in
volunteering initiatives, enabling more than 419,000 recorded
hours of volunteering and training for 6,710 people across Wales.
During Volunteers Week, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
visited St Giles Trust in Newport, which received nearly £100,000
through the Welsh Government's Strategic Volunteering Grant. The
funding supports their 'Experts By Experience Wales' project,
creating inclusive volunteering opportunities for people with
lived experience of the criminal justice system, poverty,
violence and exploitation.
Business Development Manager at St Giles Trust,
Anne-Marie Rogan, said: “Our project aims to break down
barriers for those with lived experience of adversity who want to
volunteer. We've created a self-assessment toolkit for employers
across all sectors and developed a digital platform launching
this month that will connect organisations with individuals
seeking volunteering pathways. This funding has been crucial in
helping us drive meaningful change in how Wales approaches
inclusive volunteering."
At the end of Volunteers Week, the Cabinet Secretary for
Social Justice, , said: "Volunteers are
the backbone of our communities and Volunteers Week gives us all
the opportunity to reflect on the impact volunteering has on
individuals, organisations and communities across Wales.
“While people give their time freely, we recognise they must be
properly supported and safeguarded, which is why we remain
committed to investing in people and our communities. I thank
each volunteer for their contribution and encourage everyone to
continue supporting volunteering efforts that make our
communities so much richer."
Notes to editors
St Giles Cymru has been working to build positive futures across
Wales since 2012. The team works across approximately 25 projects
that help people held back by poverty, unemployment, the criminal
justice system, homelessness, exploitation and abuse to build a
positive future. Our Vision, Mission &
Values - St Giles
