Over the centuries, people in the ancient City of Salisbury have always volunteered to give their time, knowledge and energy freely to help others. As part of the celebrations for the 800th anniversary of Salisbury’s foundation next year, the City’s present day volunteers are to be thanked and recognised for their selfless work.
Thousands of volunteers play a vital role in the City’s community today, and Salisbury 800 is calling these people ‘Changemakers’. They are to be thanked and recognised with a project that will identify and highlight people currently giving their time to charities and organisations that could otherwise find it difficult to survive without them.
“Salisbury’s network of volunteers deserves to be celebrated. As a part of Salisbury’s 800th anniversary we want to recognise their contribution, reward them for their service and encourage others to join this wonderful group of people.” - Susi Mason, Salisbury 800 Project Lead.
As part of the project, Salisbury Radio will help tell their stories by shining a light on some of the lesser-known ways people serve their community every day, and Salisbury 800 and Wessex Community Action are working with local photographer, Steve Grimmett, to photograph some of the volunteers, and these photographs will be exhibited at the Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre from April to June 2027.
Thanks to a generous donation from Salisbury’s MP, John Glen, thousands of volunteers will be rewarded with a pin badge. They can wear it with pride, and it is hoped they will spark conversations that encourage others to consider giving their time and energy to also volunteer.
Salisbury 800 is drawing a two-mile radius from the city centre, encompassing Bemerton Heath, Old Sarum, Laverstock, Harnham and the hospital. Charities, groups and organisations that rely on volunteers, are asked to fill in this form so they can be involved in the project and their stories can be shared.
