Celebrating two years of Volunteer Bucks!

Since Volunteer Bucks launched, we've seen people from all walks of life explore volunteering - whether they're looking to meet new people, develop skilld, improve their wellbeing, give something back or simply make a difference locally.

At the same time, charities and community organisations across Buckinghamshire have been able to promote their volunteering opportunities and reach people who might not otherwise have found them.

In the first two years, Volunteer Bucks has:

• connected with 2,548 volunteers
• supported 290 organisations across Buckinghamshire
• helped create 762 successful matches
• promoted more than 944 volunteering opportunities

Behind every one of those figures is a story: someone who found a new sense of purpose, an organisation that gained a much-needed volunteer, or a community that benefited from someone choosing to give their time. 

Taking volunteering on the road

During Volunteer' Week and Small Charity Week 2026, we took to the road with our Volunteer Roadshow, bringing volunteering conversations directly to people across Buckinghamshire and celebrating the organisations and volunteers making a difference.

The roadshow was an opportunity to meet people where they are, hear what they want from volunteering and showcase some of the fantastic opportunities available locally. 

It gave us the chance to speak directly with charities and community organisations about the support they need to attract, involve, and retain volunteers. 

Shaping the future of volunteering

Another important part of our work over the past year has been the Volunteer Bucks Inclusive Partnership (VBIP) project.

Focused on making volunteering across Buckinghamshire more accessible, inclusive, and rewarding, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered in partnership with Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy, we are helping organisations think differently about volunteering and how they can remove barriers to participation.

VBIP is helping us to understand what prevent people from getting involved, what organisations can do differently, and how volunteering can become a more welcoming experience for everyone.

This is about more than increasing the numer of volunteers. It is about making sure that people from different backgrounds, with different experiences, skills and circumstances, can see a place for themselves in volunteering and helping organisations create volunteer experiences for today's volunteers.

You can view our 1-year project update blog here.

Shout Volunteering

During her year as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire (2025-26), Pippa Kirkbride had the privilege of meeting volunteers from across the country - from youth leaders and trustees to food bank volunteers, first responders, mentors, fundraisers, and carers.

Her Volunteer Voices campaign reflects an important message: if we want volunteering to thrive, we all have a role to play in making it seen, valued, and easier to access. 

Pippa's call is simple - talk about volunteering, inspire others to take part, and remind decision-makers that volunteering is a civic asset, essential to the future of Buckinghamshire.

You can read Pippa's full blog on the Shout Volunteering event here.

A place to share, discover, and celebrate

Volunteer Bucks isn't just about finding opportunities. It is also about creating a space where the volunteering community can connect. 

Our Volunteer Bucks Notice Board provides a place for volunteers and organisations to share news, comments, videos, and feedback. It also gives us a way to share important Volunteer Bucks updates with the wider community. 

The Notice Board's volunteering Padlet gives people another way to celebrate the contribution volunteers are making across Buckinghamshire, helping to make the often-unseen impact of volunteering more visible. 

If you have a volunteering story to share, an achievement to celebrate, or something you think other volunteers or organisations should know about, we'd love to hear from you. 

Looking ahead

Two years in, we're proud of how far Volunteer Bucks has come, but we're even more excited about what comes next. 

Together, we're working to make volunteering across Buckinghamshire more accessible, inclusive and rewarding for everyone.

Whether you're looking to give a few hours, develop new skills, meet people, or make a difference in your community, there are hundreds of ways to get involved.