Thank You, Volunteers

Each year, we host The Big Life group Volunteers Celebration and Thank You Lunch. It’s a small way to recognise the incredible people who give their time, energy, and passion to Big Life.

This year’s event was hosted at the stunning, historic Bright Room at Rochdale Town Hall. Nearly 100 volunteers from across our services joined staff, Big Life Board members, and our leadership team for an afternoon of gratitude, great food, and well-deserved rounds of applause!

Volunteers from across the group were represented, including Living Well Rochdale, Energise, Talking Therapies Manchester, Living Well Tameside, The Zion Cafe, Kath Locke Centre, Big Issue North, Longsight Family Hub, Community Services, and Community Voice.

“We listened to lots of our volunteers who suggested Rochdale Town Hall as a good venue, and they were not wrong! We couldn’t have asked for a better day, weather, or turnout; some came from as far as Liverpool and Longsight. Thank you so much to everyone who came out and joined the celebration – we really do appreciate all the time and effort you give to others!”

— Charmaine Gregory-Schierenbeck, Volunteering and Engagement Manager, The Big Life group

Volunteers are an integral part of what we do at Big Life. They support our teams, strengthen our services, and bring vital lived experience and empathy to the people we work with. Many have walked similar paths to those they now help.

Currently, we have 220 active volunteers, many of whom have dedicated over 100 hours each this year alone. Collectively, they’ve given thousands of hours to our services and our service users, showing just how wide-reaching and essential their contributions are.

To every Big Life volunteer, thank you. We couldn’t do it without you.

Do enjoy some snapshots from the day below!