10 July 2025

Hestia is delighted to have been shortlisted for the prestigious Third Sector Awards, which recognise the outstanding work of the UK’s charities and the people who make it happen.

Hestia has been shortlisted in the category of Volunteer Team of the Year. This category recognises the volunteer team that has had “a significant impact on a charity or good cause over the past year”.

Our award entry highlighted that volunteers are core to everything that Hestia does - helping us to achieve our mission of empowering people who have experienced crisis and trauma to find safety, hope and purpose.

Volunteers complement our trauma-informed support by providing valuable opportunities to reduce isolation, build confidence, develop new skills, and improve wellbeing.

Our Volunteering team has grown Hestia’s volunteering programme from 62 volunteers in 2010 to over 1000 today. They work tirelessly to innovate - whether that’s creating new volunteering opportunities online, creating a platform for the voices of those we support, or finding new ways to express gratitude to those that give their time.

In 2024, 91% of volunteers shared they felt valued and recognised by Hestia, and 94% would recommend volunteering at Hestia.

Most importantly, the volunteering programme has a hugely positive impact on those we support. According to our most recent Annual Service User Satisfaction Survey, 93% of respondents said that working with a volunteer had improved their self-confidence, 94% said it had improved their wellbeing and 91% felt they have gained skills and knowledge and feel more involved in their local community.

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