Celebrating volunteers

25 February, 2025

Charities

Volunteers are the heart and soul of many charities, so it's important to show them how much you value the work they do.

Hosting appreciation or award events like dinners or picnics, sending personalised thank you notes and showing their hard work in newsletters or on social media are great ways to celebrate and acknowledge the work they do.

Little things like a "Volunteer of the Month" program, social media shout-outs and small appreciation gifts can make a big difference in making volunteers feel valued and motivated.

You could also offer professional development opportunities to show you're invested in their growth. Public recognition through local media or community events can also show off their contributions and raise awareness about your cause. Overall, celebrating volunteers is all about building a supportive and appreciative community that keeps everyone motivated and inspired to keep making a difference.

Zurich's volunteers

Zurich is serious about promoting community service among its employees. It offers up to three "business" days per year for volunteering. This initiative is an effort to encourage its employees to offer their time and skills to help others in the community.

Zurich UK employees have contributed over 4,000 days of volunteer work in a year, marking a significant achievement for the company. The employees have dedicated their time to various community projects, showcasing their commitment to social responsibility and making a positive impact.

In addition to this, many individuals in the Zurich Insurance Community choose to contribute their time to charitable organizations and non-profit groups outside of work.

I volunteer for the Stroke Association because, when my husband suffered a stroke while we were on holiday, we turned to them for support in what was a very difficult time in our lives.

Being hospitalised abroad with a language barrier, their guidance on rehabilitation and help connecting with other stroke survivors made a real difference. Volunteering as a cheer marshal at marathons across the South of England is our way of giving something back. Being on the sidelines at events like the Brighton Marathon, seeing runners take on huge challenges for causes they care about, reminds us how powerful community and support can be and we’re proud to be part of that with the Stroke Association.

Mikaela McLeod,

Operations Manager, Zurich Municipal

I volunteer as a telephone befriender through Age UK. One of the best parts of being a telephone friend is knowing you’ve cheered your friend up. Sometimes I can tell when she is feeling low, but as the call goes on, she starts opening up and laughing.

Our friendship goes beyond phone calls. We exchange letters, send birthday and Christmas cards, and I always send her a post card when I go on holiday.

Charlotte Tilley,

CX & Proposition Delivery Lead, Zurich Municipal