Celebrating Volunteers Week
As Volunteers’ Week gets underway, we’re celebrating the incredible impact of the hundreds of volunteers who give their time to support children and families, and retail services across our community, and their dedication makes a real and lasting difference every single day.
Shooting Star has delved into the figures to reveal the extraordinary contribution made by more than 600 volunteers supporting the charity in all sorts of different ways. From shop floors to specialist care services, volunteers have played a vital role in raising funds, supporting families and strengthening community connections over the past year.
Volunteers remain at the heart of the organisation’s retail operation, with 325 individuals supporting shops and the distribution unit. Their dedication has helped generate an impressive £1.3 million over the past year, funds that go directly towards providing essential services to the children and families that need it most. Across eight shops and the distribution centre, volunteers sorted an enormous 46,029 donation bags, ensuring quality items were ready for sale. Their efforts also helped serve 121,894 customers, highlighting the scale and reach of Shooting Star’s presence on the high street. Retail success has extended online too, with 2,346 items sold through eCommerce platforms like Ebay, demonstrating how volunteers are helping the organisation adapt to changing shopping habits.
Beyond retail, volunteers continue to help in supporting children and families. Two volunteer hairdressers regularly give their time at Bereavement Café sessions and Mega Monday events, offering comfort and care in difficult moments. Specialist roles such as volunteer memory book artists have also made a lasting impact, creating 16 bespoke memory pages this year for bereaved families to treasure.
Meanwhile, 13 volunteer pool watchers assist the Physiotherapy team, enabling families to access vital hydrotherapy sessions. Their support ensures these therapeutic experiences remain available and safe. The organisation’s volunteers are equally active in the wider community. This year, 49 volunteers supported fundraising events, complementing the efforts of dedicated Friends’ groups who organise activities throughout the year. Young people are also playing a growing role. Over the past 12 months, 70 young volunteers joined the organisation, with 39 completing their Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Awards, gaining valuable experience.
Volunteers supporting sibling events helped deliver 37 care-focused sessions over the past year, creating safe and supportive spaces for children and families navigating difficult circumstances. At the same time, the organisation’s volunteer ambassador programme has expanded significantly, growing from just two ambassadors in 2025 to ten today. Each ambassador brings unique experience and insight, helping to raise awareness and champion the charity’s work. The commitment of volunteers is also reflected in their longevity. This year, 138 volunteers received Long Service Awards, with 18 individuals celebrating an incredible 25 years of dedication.
Together, these contributions highlight just how essential volunteers are to everything Shooting Star does. From supporting care events to driving fundraising and strengthening community connections, their time, skills and compassion underpin every aspect of our work. Quite simply, without our volunteers, we would not be able to provide the same level of care, support and opportunity to the children and families who rely on us.
To read even more about some of our volunteers and what they do for us, please visit our Volunteers page. If you feel inspired and would like to become a Shooting Star volunteer, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.
