Volunteers Week
This week is Volunteers'Week (1-7 June 2026) – a time to celebrate the remarkable people who give their time and energy to make a difference.
As a social enterprise we as staff are paid for the work we do but we are also supported by volunteer hours. Whether it is the unpaid hours of our staff going above and beyond or our volunteers who come along and lend a hand, those volunteer hours make a huge difference.
Volunteering is a two‑way gift: you offer your skills, but you gain so much more in return - confidence, purpose, friendship, sometimes even a whole new direction in life. Here’s the story of Ryan, one of our volunteers, which proves that better than anything.
Ryan is 20, has additional needs and lives with foster parents. When he first came to our Brightwayz Active Travel Hub in Kettering, he was quiet and unsure. But he started volunteering – learning bike maintenance, safety checks, and theft‑prevention marking. Slowly, something began to shift. The more he learned, the more his confidence grew. He started talking to visitors at events, then to strangers in the town. "I meet people all the time," Ryan told me. "Now I talk to the public at events. And they talk back. It's great."
That simple sentence says everything. And it prompted us to feature Ryan in our Brightwayz Initiatives and Impacts report last year.
Ryan has also been instrumental in helping us develop our Harry’s Way project too – a travel training programme supporting young people with additional needs to develop independent travel skills.
Ryan didn't just take part; his journey showed us what was possible. He helped us shape the programme, and today Harry's Way is helping other young people follow the path he blazed.
For Ryan, the impact has been nothing short of life‑changing. We're talking about improved mental health, practical life skills, sustainable travel habits, and genuine community engagement. He now cycles regularly to college, uses public transport independently, and is planning train journeys further afield.
"On Harry's Way I learnt how to go on a bus and also how to take my bike to Corby on the train," Ryan says. And his advice to anyone who might be hesitating? "Get outside, give it a go – you'll feel so much more independent."
Volunteers Week is about thanking people, but it's also about recognising that volunteering can be truly transformative. Ryan has transformed his life through his own commitment, and I'm so proud that Brightwayz could offer a welcoming space for that to happen.
So this week, a huge thank you to every single volunteer. And if you've been thinking about getting involved, whether you're 19 or 91, take Ryan's advice: get outside, give it a go. You never know where it might lead – or who you might inspire along the way. Find out more about Volunteers Week at volunteersweek.org
And a final note if you manage volunteers yourself and want to thank them. Our Brightwayz Green Promo range has a huge choice of ‘thank you’ practical gifts for your volunteers that can be printed with your organisation’s logo. From handy pens for making notes to water bottles to keep them refreshed when out and about, it’s a great way to show your appreciation. See more at www.brightwayz.promo
Here at Brightwayz social enterprise we love to provide information and tips to help you, your colleagues, friends and family travel in safe, active, sustainable ways for everyday journeys.
Our unique range of products is here to help support your active travel campaigns and 100% of profits from sales is ploughed back to support the work we do. Take a look at our range here and find something to help you inspire others to travel in good ways.
Reflector Shop pack
High Vis Child Waistcoat
Brightwayz Bike Bell
Chalk Reusable Name Badges 
Reborn Recycled Aluminium Pen 
Recycled Aluminium Water Bottle