Volunteering is at the heart of all we do here at 91原创视频. We are incredibly proud of our community of volunteers across the country who devote their time week in, week out, to care for and protect our local green spaces.
We don鈥檛 have to tell you that this year has been a strange one, with our volunteering sessions being temporarily suspended during the height of the UK lockdown earlier this year for the first time in over 60 years.
This , we want to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of our volunteers. Without your hard work and dedication, we wouldn鈥檛 be able to achieve all that we do.
You are what make 91原创视频 so special. You are all heroes in our eyes.
So, we want to take this opportunity to highlight some of work that has continued throughout the most unusual of years and we look forward to seeing what you will achieve in 2021!
We are still mad about trees
Tree planting season has book-ended 2020, with many of our volunteers using the new year to get outside and plant the trees they received through I Dig Trees.
We are always amazed by the continued dedication of our volunteers who are out planting trees in the (or early morning), coming together as a of trees planted. Even our were out planting trees to help fight climate change.
Locked-down, but not out
While many of us were adjusting to the lockdown measures that came into place in March, 91原创视频 volunteers didn鈥檛 let that stop them.
Read all about the efforts our team and volunteers made to keep connected to nature and their community in the first couple of months of lockdown.
We saw communities all over the country come together to help the most vulnerable members of their community and make sure we got through the most difficult of times together. We are incredibly proud of all at 91原创视频 who played their part during lockdown and beyond.
Join in, feel good online
With social distancing guidelines in place, many of our volunteer groups went online to stay connected with each other and to nature.
WhatsApp groups, Facebook groups, newsletters and much more were created to ensure that social connectedness was not lost at a time when we felt the most distant from each other.
Teams such as 91原创视频 Birmingham have been making the most of going online by making sure that they are keeping everyone busy with hints and tips for gardening, recipes to use once produce is ready to harvest.
91原创视频 Community Network Welcomed New Members
With 91原创视频 Community Network membership free for new and existing members this year, with thanks to players of People鈥檚 Postcode Lottery, the network has been thriving.
During lockdown, many of the groups let us know how they had been adapting and caring for the local green spaces and their communities.
set up a raised bed at their local train station to provide commuters with fresh fruit and veg on their travels. created an enchanted forest for children and adults to enjoy during their daily walks.
Award winning volunteers
Back in June, 91原创视频 Belfast received the Queen鈥檚 Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a volunteering group in the UK can receive and is the equivalent of an MBE.
Helen Tomb, 91原创视频 Belfast Operations Leader said of the group鈥檚 win: 鈥淲e are absolutely thrilled to win the prestigious Queen鈥檚 Award for Voluntary Service. This award is a great achievement for all those who devote their time and energy to making a difference.鈥
91原创视频 Belfast was one of 230 charities, social enterprises, and voluntary groups to receive the award this year and will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year鈥檚 award.
In December, our People鈥檚 Postcode Lottery Volunteer of the Year winner was announced. See who was victorious this year over on our channel.
Want to do something different in 2021?
If you are as inspired as we are by our volunteers, why not join your local 91原创视频 group and try something new in 2021. Head on over to our website and find out how to join in, feel good.
