28 May

National Volunteers’ Week: Celebrating a City that Cares

This National Volunteers’ Week, The Lord Mayor’s Appeal is proud to celebrate the individuals and organisations helping to create a 'City that Cares'.

National Volunteers’ Week is an opportunity to recognise the people, charities, businesses and communities who give their time to support others and create meaningful change. Across the City of London, volunteering continues to play a vital role in strengthening communities, opening opportunities and improving lives.

At The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, celebrating a 'City that Cares' sits at the heart of our mission. Through initiatives such as City Giving Day, we see first-hand how businesses, organisations and individuals across the Square Mile are coming together to support communities and champion social responsibility.

This year, we’re proud to spotlight just a few of the inspiring people and initiatives helping to make that vision a reality.

Supporting Communities Through Everyday Action

For Corporate Communications Specialist Sarah Mahomed Ross, volunteering has always been about making a tangible difference to people’s lives.

Having volunteered in various capacities since her university days, Sarah now dedicates her time to causes including The Children’s Book Project, helping to ensure children who may not own a single book at home can experience the joy of reading. She also supports inclusive sport through the London Youth Games and Team London Ambassador networks.

Sarah believes the City’s long-standing culture of service and collaboration is one of its greatest strengths, but also highlights the enormous untapped potential that still exists.

“If every City worker used just one day to support a local cause a year, the collective impact would be huge.”

Driving Social Mobility Through Skills-Based Volunteering

For Jonathan Tait, Social Impact Senior Advisor at Linklaters, volunteering is rooted in a simple but powerful belief:

“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.”

Through the firm’s Realising Aspirations: Young People programme, Linklaters works alongside charities, schools and community organisations to help young people from underserved and underrepresented communities access the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to pursue fulfilling careers.

Jonathan highlights three areas where volunteering creates the greatest impact:

• Supporting young people to see careers in law, business and technology as realistic and achievable
• Helping colleagues build empathy, leadership and communication skills through meaningful engagement
• Strengthening connections across the City by bringing together businesses, schools and charities to create long-term change

Linklaters’ partnership with Inspiration for All also sees firm leaders paired with education leaders from schools and colleges to tackle challenges around aspiration, inclusion and social mobility together.

Reflecting on the wider importance of volunteering, Jonathan says:

“National Volunteers’ Week reminds us that lasting impact happens when community organisations, businesses and individuals collaborate around a shared purpose.”

Creating Positive Change Through Community Action

For Niki Dufour, Social Value Advisor at Skanska UK, volunteering is about creating opportunities that genuinely make a difference.

Through initiatives like the “Know Your Type” event at 1 Appold Street, delivered in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant, Skanska is helping raise awareness around blood donation and encouraging people across the City to take action.

The campaign also carries a deeply personal meaning for Niki, who previously required a life-saving blood transfusion during emergency surgery. While she is no longer able to donate herself, she is now helping others understand the vital importance of donation and the impact volunteers can have without ever meeting the people they help.

Niki also highlights the value of long-term relationships in volunteering — from supporting students through STEM sessions and mentoring, to building lasting partnerships with charities and community groups across the City.

“Collaboration is what turns good intentions into meaningful impact.”

She believes the City is uniquely positioned to drive positive change through partnership and collective action.

“Initiatives like City Giving Day provide a powerful focal point for that collective energy, enabling businesses, charities and communities to come together and amplify each other’s efforts.”

Creating Lasting Memories Through Volunteerism

A fantastic example of collective volunteering in action is the Children’s Magical Taxi Tour.

Run by the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers since 1994, the annual initiative sees hundreds of licensed London Taxi drivers volunteer their time and vehicles to transport children with life-limiting illnesses and their families to Disneyland Paris for a magical three-day experience.

What began over three decades ago has now supported more than 5,000 children, offering moments of joy, escape and togetherness for families navigating incredibly difficult circumstances.

This National Volunteers’ Week, we thank every volunteer, charity, business and community organisation helping to create a more inclusive and connected City.

Through City Giving Day, The Lord Mayor’s Appeal continues to champion the power of collective action in creating a more connected and compassionate City. Find more information or sign up here