Moray Council celebrates Volunteers Week
Volunteers in services at Moray Council are sharing the positive impact volunteering has had on their lives, to mark Volunteers Week (2-8 June 2025).
Volunteers Week is a UK-wide celebration of volunteering, to recognise the contribution made by millions of people across the country – and inspire others to consider volunteering.
Hundreds of people volunteer through Moray Council in a range of capacities, including working with young people, as befrienders and providing support to people who have difficulties with reading, writing and numbers.
Darwin Milne volunteers alongside his Shih Tzu, Broxy, who is a therapet.
He said: “Volunteering has been life-changing for me. I worked as a lorry driver, but ended up in a wheelchair after an accident. That had a big impact on my life.
“Volunteering has given me freedom – giving me the opportunity to go out and meet people, to make a difference in the lives of others as well as my own.
“Broxy loves meeting new people, and you can see how much of a difference he makes in their lives – no matter whether they are young or old.
“I would encourage anyone who is considering volunteering through Moray Council to do so – a small amount of time out of your week can make a big difference.”
Isla and Cara Coull volunteer as coaches through Active Schools.
Isla said: “We really enjoy volunteering and it’s made a huge difference in our lives, leading to a paid job – we’ve ended up working for Active Schools, coaching young people – which really does show what volunteering can lead to.
Cara added: “Working with young people and watching them develop not just in sports, but as people has been brilliant. I couldn’t recommend volunteering enough – it’s been life-changing for us both.”
Michael McClafferty volunteers with the Moray Gaelic Group. He added: “They say that every language has its soul and this is very true of Gaelic here. As volunteers we are indebted to everyone who helps with the resurgence of Gaelic awareness and through this are seeing a real appetite for learning the language and associated cultural activities with the pleasure this brings.”
Moray Council leader Kathleen Robertson said volunteers played a crucial role: “Volunteers are central to our communities. Their generosity, time and dedication make an enormous difference in the lives of others across Moray. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who gives their time to support others – a feeling I know is shared across the council. Thank you for everything you do, and for the lives you’ve changed for the better.”