Caritas has launched the European Year of Volunteering with the creation of a new volunteering post. The appointment of Alison Hegarty to coordinate our volunteer work will ensure that Caritas builds on the strong traditions of volunteering in the diocese through recruiting, training, placing and supporting volunteers who are so vital to our charitable work. For Caritas, volunteering and its message of service and commitment to other people is intrinsic to our identity. Volunteering is our response to the greatest commandment - to love one another.

Volunteers contribute to our services and local communities by offering their time, skills and experience. Their efforts and those of the many hundreds of volunteers at parish level make a difference to society in countless ways.

Caritas will be taking the opportunity of this European Year of Volunteering to highlight and strengthen our own volunteering initiatives in the many areas of our work and also to promote the volunteering programmes of many other organisations within the family of the Diocese of Salford.

Above all, Caritas will seize the opportunity of this European Year to express a heartfelt thank you to all those who, through their commitment in a spirit of service, contribute to a better world for so many people who need the support of good neighbours as volunteers.

During the Year of Volunteering Caritas will work to

• recognise and make visible the role of volunteers and their contribution to Caritas and the wider community.

• promote and develop volunteering as a practical expression of love and service.

• strengthen support structures that offer training and development for volunteers.

• introduce new forms of volunteering that include initiatives that empower disadvantaged and excluded people to take up valued roles in society

The Caritas Year of Volunteering events will include

May-June - Young Caritas Austria volunteers - Cornerstones
18th June - Cornerstones volunteer day celebration & mass
23rd July - Hospital chaplains and volunteers reflection day
1st October - Caritas Volunteers day
November - Volunteer fair – finding out about volunteering (TBC)
2nd-4th December - Caritas Europa volunteering festival in Strasbourg
5th December - International Day of Volunteering event

To find out more about volunteering with Caritas contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it