Mayor marks the Year of Volunteering

The event in the mayor’s parlour was to mark European Year of Volunteering.

Increasing recognition of volunteering is one of the key themes of the year and Cllr McKee acknowledged the significant contribution that volunteers bring to communities within the borough.

Throughout the year the Volunteer Now organisation has been engaging with local councils to promote and celebrate volunteering.

Paul Dinsmore, regional manager, said: “We were delighted to receive this kind invitation from the mayor. It clearly shows the value that the council places in local people giving their time to help others.”

Paul added: “The European Year of Volunteering provides an opportunity to profile the many challenges facing volunteering and to ensure that it not taken for granted.”

The Mayor presented each of the people attending the reception with a European Year of Volunteering certificate.

Kim Smith from Women’s Aid said: “It’s great to be recognised for my voluntary work and to get acknowledgement of this from the mayor.”

Volunteer Now is a regional to local organisation which works to promote, develop and support volunteering across Northern Ireland.

For more information on volunteering you can contact the North-east regional team by calling 07850 851 823 or email [email protected]