Funding for this project enabled the charity to employ a Volunteer Coordinator, a role that has significantly enhanced our organisational capacity and the sustainability of our services. Through this investment, we have successfully recruited, trained, and supported over sixty volunteers, creating a robust and skilled volunteer workforce that now underpins key areas of delivery.

These volunteers have contributed directly to the effective running of our Literary Festival, enabling us to extend our reach, increase audience participation, and deliver a higher-quality programme. They have also supported our heritage initiatives, helping to document, preserve, and share local history, which strengthens community identity and engagement. In addition, volunteers play a central role in our health and wellbeing programmes, supporting activities that reduce social isolation, promote mental wellbeing, and increase access to community-based support.

The impact of this volunteer infrastructure is substantial. It has allowed the charity to expand service provision, improve responsiveness to local needs, and maximise the value of funding by increasing our operational capacity without significant additional costs. The exceptional contribution of our volunteers was formally recognised when the charity received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2025.

This project has delivered clear, measurable community benefit and represents excellent value for investment.