40 Years of Volunteers' Week: Inspiring others and saying Thanks!

Volunteers' Week, 3 to 9 June is an opportunity to thank those who dedicate their time to making a difference in their communities and beyond. Malcolm Bacchus, ICAEW Deputy President, shares his thanks to all involved globally, and his views on the importance of volunteering.

"ICAEW Chartered Accountants possess world-leading technical and ethical knowledge and skills, and I'm proud that so many of our members use these attributes to give something back, both to the profession and to wider society." he explains.

"Fundamentally, the profession is only a profession if our members, students and others are involved. The contributions of those who generously volunteer their time for our institute - including serving on our Council, boards, and committees - are critical in shaping the profession, ICAEW's strategy and in delivering our activities.

More widely, the expertise of those who volunteer in the not-for-profit sector - in a wide variety of roles - enables charities, clubs, and societies to flourish, and benefits causes that make such a difference to so many lives."

Malcolm, who has been involved with ICAEW since his student days, and like many other of our members and students, helps in other charities and volunteer organisations understands how important it is to be involved in these activities.

Personally, it has made me very happy to be contributing to something and feel like I’m making a difference. There's never any benefit in just sitting at home and complaining, it's much more fun being out there and helping both current and future generations to live in a better world. And you meet so many wonderful people with so many different experiences and ideas in doing so, so it's by no means all one sided.

If you would like to get involved in ICAEW, why not:

• serve on our Council, boards, committees and local groups;
• support our work at schools and universities in the UK. Register your interest.
• support the local student society across the UK and internationally. Learn more here.

ICAEW and CABA launched ICAEW Volunteers to help skilled, and in-demand chartered accountants give back and strengthen the not-for-profit sector through support in volunteer roles. The service is free and is there to help you find a volunteer role, or post a volunteer role.

ICAEW are proud champions of Rise, an initiative equipping thousands of students in the hardest to reach areas of the UK with skills to succeed in life and work. Volunteering for Rise will offer you the opportunity to share your career journey, support young people and, ultimately, inspire the next generation. Learn more about Rise.

We thank all our volunteers who embrace the opportunity to make a difference through volunteering.

Volunteers’ Week is led in partnership by NCVO, Volunteer Scotland, Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland) and Wales Council for Voluntary Action and is supported by ICAEW and organisations across the UK.