Celebrating Volunteers Week with a Drop in Session on the 5th of June!

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated Advisory Group for your ongoing support and valuable feedback. One point you highlighted was the desire for more opportunities to connect and engage with one another – and we’re pleased to say, we’ve taken that to heart.

As part of this year’s Volunteers Week, we’re delighted to invite all our volunteers – including trustees, ambassadors, and those interested in getting involved – to a relaxed drop-in event in Headingley on the evening of Thursday 5th June.

📍 Location: 31 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3AA

🕓 Time: 5:00pm-8:00pm

Save the date – we’d love to see you there!

Whether you’re a long-time volunteer, recently joined us, or just exploring the idea of giving your time, this event is a great opportunity to:

• Meet and mingle with fellow volunteers and our team

• Enjoy some refreshments

• Take part in a creative workshop to help with our window display

• Learn more about our current volunteering opportunities

• Discover where volunteering could take you next

  
  

This isn’t a formal gathering – just a welcoming space to connect, reflect, and celebrate everything that volunteers bring to our community.

Know someone who’s thinking about volunteering? Bring them along! This is a perfect chance for them to hear firsthand about the impact they could make and the community they could join.

We’re also excited to highlight some personal stories from our volunteers.

Sarah Watson began her volunteering journey with YBTC in 2024, supporting our fundraising walkers on the Coastal Ramble as a first aider. Reflecting on her experience, she shared:

"[I enjoyed] being involved with the community on the walk itself. This year there were a number of walkers that have either had a brain tumour themselves or they have known or lost somebody [to a brain tumour]. So I think that walking and having conversations with them about how much this charity has helped them get through what they've been through [is really important]."

Since then, Sarah has also taken part in our wellbeing walks, which bring together brain tumour patients and their loved ones to connect with nature, share experiences, and build a strong, supportive community.

Another inspiring story comes from Charlotte Waite, whose personal experiences led her to volunteer for YBTC. She has used her professional skills to help redevelop the YBTC website in partnership with AND Digital, and has also generously volunteered at events such as the Great Yorkshire Show, Wear a Hat Day at Wetherby Racecourse, and even organised a local networking event, "Pizza and Positive Impact," bringing together local businesses and charities to explore how collaborative efforts can benefit their communities.

Charlotte shared the motivation behind her decision to volunteer:

"I actually didn't give brain tumours much thought until my own family found out firsthand how difficult they can be, through not just the medical side of things, but also emotionally, practically, financially. Day-to-day life with a brain tumour can be incredibly different to how it was before. So, I think the work that YBTC does, both to support people with brain tumours now and also to research so that they affect people less badly in the future."

She also spoke about her experience working with our team at the Great Yorkshire Show:

"A really great thing that we got involved with last year was manning the stand at the Great Yorkshire Show for YBTC. It was a fantastic experience for all of our volunteers and a really great opportunity to see your team in a different setting and get to know people.

She also shared with us how volunteering helped her to understand the scale of support needed across Yorkshire:

It was... very emotional actually, because we did meet quite a few people who had been affected by brain tumours themselves, or their families, or people they know. You always hope that people aren't involved, in a sense, because they've had that personal experience, because you hope that no one experiences a brain tumour, but I was really surprised to see how many people at the Yorkshire Show that we met were affected. I actually didn't expect that!"

Charlotte’s story is a reminder of the powerful connections formed through volunteering and the meaningful impact it can have on individuals and communities alike.

If you’d like to join us on the 5th June, please let us know by contacting Eilish,

(eilish@yorksbtc.org.uk) and feel free to share this invitation with anyone who may be interested in volunteering with us.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!