This week (1st June-7th June 2026) is Volunteers Week, a UK-wide campaign to recognise the amazing contributions of volunteers.

To celebrate, all this week we’ll be sharing stories of volunteers in our communities.

This August will mark two years since Lisa Sly (pictured centre) started volunteering and it all began with wanting to be part of the community.

Lisa, said: “I felt isolated and wanted to get out and meet people, and volunteering has helped me do that. It inspires me to get out and get involved.”

Since starting her volunteering journey, Lisa has given her time to support the work of Shenley Seniors, including the lunch club at Shenley Court Hall.

She has also volunteered to help set up a new Uniform Swap Shop at the Hall, which involves her labelling clothes ready for families to come in and take what they need.

Other events Lisa has volunteered at include the Shenley Heritage Day, University Hospital’s Osteoporosis event at Shenley Court Hall and a Christmas lunch and one-off special events.

So why is volunteering so important to Lisa?

“I’m not able to commit to a full time job, and volunteering gives me the flexibility to work around my family commitments and other responsibilities,” she said.

“Volunteering has helped me gain confidence and has been a type of therapy for me. It helping my confidence grow and makes me feel needed. The best thing about volunteering for me is meeting new people. You get to be involved in projects and have a say in what happens at events and being part of something in your community.”

Want to find out about volunteering opportunities in your area, or how you can get involved in Bournville Village Trust’s work? Go to our get involved page today!