Pictured: Staff from the City Council’s Family Centres held a special awards lunch for volunteers
To mark Volunteers’ Week (1 – 7 June), Milton Keynes City Council hosted a special lunch and awards presentation for local people who volunteer in its Family Centres. Alongside its dedicated centre staff, more than 50 local volunteers help out at these 10 very popular centres.
The City Council’s Family Centres welcome more than 5,000 residents each month and are open all year round. They offer activities and courses for families with children alongside support for adults.
Volunteers help in a variety of areas from welcoming visitors and setting up group activities to answering the phones, and gardening. They also help to run the local Community Larder – organising and distributing food and household essentials to residents in need.
“The opportunity to volunteer at Moorlands Family Centre came at a time when I was feeling isolated and struggling. It helped me build my confidence, make new connections and feel part of a supportive community. Through volunteering, I learned new skills and saw a big improvement in my wellbeing, which encouraged me to look for work. I’m now working part‑time at the centre, and volunteering has truly transformed my life.”
“Volunteering at Hedgerows Family Centre has been a really positive and rewarding experience for me. I’ve loved being able to help families and children, and it’s opened my eyes to the difference this kind of work can make. Being part of a supportive team has made it even more special. It’s inspired me to pursue a career working in childcare.”
“Our volunteers play such an important role in supporting our Family Centres, and I’d like to thank them all for the time, care and dedication they bring. Their contribution makes a real difference to families across Milton Keynes. Working alongside our fantastic centre teams, they help us reach more people and offer a wider range of support to those who need it.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at their local Family Centre can contact tina.hendry@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Volunteers' Week is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities.