09 Jun 2026
It’s OK To Say founder and CEO Stacey Turner marks Volunteers’ Week, a time to celebrate the people who quietly make an extraordinary difference in our communities.
As I sat down to write this article, I found myself thinking about all the volunteers I have met throughout my career.
The ones who arrive early to set up chairs before anyone else gets there. The ones who stay behind to tidy up. The ones who give up evenings, weekends, and precious time because they care about making life a little better for someone else. Or simply because it’s something they resonate with and believe in.
So much of what we value in our communities simply would not exist without volunteers!
At It’s OK To Say, we are fortunate to be supported by incredible volunteers. They give their time, skills, lived experience, compassion, and encouragement to help us create safe spaces for people who may be struggling.
They are often the reassuring smile at an event, the friendly face welcoming someone through the door, or the person quietly working behind the scenes to ensure things run smoothly.
As CEO of It’s OK To Say, I am often the person people see. I write these articles, attend meetings, speak at events, and advocate for the people we support. But the truth is, none of that would be possible without the incredible people around me.
This Volunteers’ Week, I have found myself reflecting not only on the impact volunteers have on the people we support, but also on the impact they have on me personally.
One volunteer who immediately comes to mind is Carron French from Living Walls Company. Carron has been caring for our living wall garden and helping to create a space that offers a sense of calm and tranquillity.
She has been a breath of fresh air – quite literally. Her dedication is a reminder that supporting mental wellbeing isn’t always about words; sometimes it’s about creating environments where people feel safe, welcome, and able to breathe a little easier.
But Carron is just one example of the many people who quietly help make our work possible. There are those who offer their time, expertise, encouragement, practical support, and belief in our mission.
There are people who step in when things feel overwhelming, who offer solutions when challenges arise, and who remind me that I don’t have to carry everything alone.
Leadership can sometimes look like standing at the front, but in reality it is often about being supported by people beside you. For that, I am incredibly grateful.
What I’ve learned over the years is that volunteering is not really about grand gestures. It is about people showing up.
Showing up when someone needs support.
Showing up when there is work to be done.
Showing up because they believe that helping others matters.
In a society that often feels fast-paced and increasingly disconnected, volunteers remind us of the importance of human connection. They remind us that community is not something that simply exists; it is something we create together through countless acts of kindness, generosity, and care.
I have also seen how volunteering can transform the lives of those who choose to give their time. Many people begin volunteering because they want to make a difference. What they often discover is that the experience changes them too. They build confidence, develop friendships, gain new skills, and find a sense of purpose and belonging.
At It’s OK To Say, we often talk about the power of connection and the importance of looking after our mental wellbeing. Volunteering brings both of these things together beautifully. It creates opportunities to connect with others, to contribute to something meaningful, and to feel part of a wider community.
As Volunteers’ Week is celebrated across the country, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to every volunteer. Not just those who support charities like ours, but those helping in schools, sports clubs, community groups, places of worship, food banks, and neighbourhood initiatives. These are initiatives we often refer our service users to name a few. It’s about collaboration.
Your contribution may not always be visible, but it is felt.
You make communities stronger.
You help people feel less alone.
You remind us that kindness still exists in abundance.
And in a world where many people are carrying challenges we cannot always see, that matters more than ever.
At the end of the day, I am always humbled by what quietly goes on behind the scenes.
The acts of kindness, generosity, dedication, and support that so often happen without recognition are the very things that help communities thrive.
I am incredibly proud of what It’s OK To Say has become, and that is thanks to every single volunteer who has walked alongside us on this journey. Whether you have given an hour, a day, a year, or simply shown up when someone needed you most, you have helped create something bigger than any one person.
Together, you have helped build a community where people feel heard, supported, and understood.
For that, I will always be grateful.
THANK YOU!
