Our 2026 volunteer celebration event – ABBA, inspiration & appreciation
Published 18 June 2026
Volunteers are ordinary people with extraordinary hearts and, as part of Volunteers' Week 2026, we came together to celebrate the incredible individuals who give their time, energy and compassion to support others across Making Space.
On 4 June, we held our annual Volunteer Celebration Event at The Midland Hotel in Manchester, bringing volunteers from across the organisation together for a day of recognition, and fun.
Representatives from Cambridgeshire Mental Health Carer Service, Peterborough Carer Wellbeing Service, The Making Change 'Co-Pro' Group, Liverpool Mental Health Services, Rivacre House in Ellesmere Port, Sandalwood Day Centre in Doncaster, St Helens Family Support, Stockport Connect Hub, Stockport Open Door, Kingshill Court in Wigan, Chatty Café Warrington, Beacon Counselling, Rotherham Dementia Carer Support and our volunteer Trustee joined us for the celebrations.
The day began with a lively game of People Bingo, encouraging volunteers to meet one another and discover shared interests and experiences. It was a fantastic icebreaker, with plenty of laughter along the way and a box of chocolates for the winner.
Guests then enjoyed a delicious three-course meal before taking to the dancefloor with the fantastic ABBA Stars duo. From Dancing Queen to Waterloo, volunteers sang, danced and celebrated together, creating a wonderful atmosphere throughout the afternoon.
One of the most powerful moments of the day came when four volunteers – Jacob from Rivacre House, Ben from the Making Change Group, Babasanmi from Petherick Road and Cerys from St Helens Family Support – bravely shared their personal volunteering journeys.
Each story was unique, but common themes shone through - lived experience, wanting to give back, building confidence, learning new skills, connecting with others and supporting people through difficult times. Their stories were honest, moving and inspiring, reminding everyone in the room of the many different reasons people volunteer and the life-changing impact volunteering can have on both volunteers and those they support.
Reflecting on the day, Phil Orton, Deputy CEO at Making Space and host of the event, said:
Volunteering is a powerful expression of community and compassion, and at Making Space it sits at the heart of how we support people every day. Our volunteers bring energy, lived experience and genuine human experience into our services, helping us reach further, tailor support and create moments that go beyond what can be delivered through paid roles alone.
Through their time and commitment, volunteers build confidence, purpose and new skills, while strengthening the depth and quality of what we offer as an organisation.
This celebration is our opportunity to say thank you and recognise the important role volunteers play in our organisation. It was wonderful to spend time together, enjoy some fantastic entertainment and celebrate the people who help make Making Space such a special place. We are incredibly grateful for everything our volunteers do.
The celebrations also included a raffle, with a food hamper and a much-coveted Capybara hamper proving popular prizes. Every volunteer also received a wellbeing gift box filled with treats and relaxation items as a small token of appreciation for the enormous difference they make throughout the year.
Another special activity invited volunteers to share their favourite volunteering memory or experience on a heart-shaped card. These messages will now be transformed into a Volunteer Memory Quilt artwork piece, which will be displayed at Head Office as a lasting reminder of the impact volunteers have across Making Space.
- Making somebody smile when they thought they couldn’t.
- I am proud to volunteer as I help people that are similar to me.
- Using my skills and knowledge to make someone happy. To listen, encourage and feel valued.
- To make a difference.
- I wanted to give back after all the support I had received.
- Being told by someone that I was their best friend.
- Seeing how happy residents have been when I have been volunteering.
- Giving a little of my time to hopefully make a bigger different to someone else.
- Creating positive impact.
- Spending time with the staff and other volunteers and having amazing times.
- Meeting lots of new people, learning new skills and getting more confident.
- Giving back helps me forget my own worries, its uplifting and a chance to give back.
- Being part of a group and helping others to find themselves and flourish is amazing.
- Giving back go society and getting a huge sense of satisfaction, knowing that I can help people in my community.
Volunteer Ian Peters from Bolton Mental Health Carer Support Service said:
I just wanted to say thank you for the event you planned for us. We really enjoyed the afternoon. The food was good and the entertainment was fantastic. Thank you for the music for giving it to me! Looking forward to next year. In the meantime, I will keep volunteering and trying to add my own experiences to the groups.
To every volunteer across Making Space, thank you - your kindness, dedication and generosity help create stronger communities, brighter futures and life-changing opportunities for the people who draw on our support. You are a valued part of Making Space and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do.
Check out the photo gallery from the day.
Want to know more about volunteering with Making Space? Visit our volunteering pages to find out how you can get involved.