Our recent Rochdale Volunteer Fair welcomed over 20 local organisations showcasing their volunteer opportunities, and saw an inspiring turnout of more than 260 people, eager to give their time and talents to local causes.
From students exploring new experiences to retirees looking to stay active in the community, the event welcomed a wide range of potential volunteers, each with their own reason for wanting to volunteer, and ready to make a difference.
Check out our video highlights as we caught up with a few Rochdale residents to speak about why they visited the Fair, and what volunteering means to them!
It was fantastic to see so much energy and enthusiasm, with many attendees making direct connections with local organisations and taking the first steps on their volunteering journey. The fair was full of energy and connection. It highlighted the strength of community spirit in our Borough and the power of coming together to create positive change.
We were also thrilled to be joined by our CEO, Liz Windsor-Welsh, Mayor of Rochdale - Councillor Janet Emsley, and her consort - Mr Ken Emsley.
We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came along, got involved, and helped make the day such a positive celebration of local volunteering. Our thanks, in particular, go to our very own amazing volunteers who helped the event run so smoothly - Nathan, Rashida, Andrew and Winta.

The Fair was a resounding success, and was widely praised by stallholders for its impressive turnout, seamless organisation, well-organised layout, and the quality of conversations with prospective volunteers.
Across all of the stalls, more than 180 genuine expressions of interest in volunteering were recorded, reflecting strong community spirit and engagement. Stallholders appreciated the communication from organisers, the inclusive environment, and the opportunity to raise awareness of their work.
We've shared some of the feedback from participating organisations below:
Rochdale Development Agency
We engaged with 75 attendees on the day, and over 40 of those showed a genuine interest in local history and biodiversity.
We gained some new sign-ups and increased our visibility, so for us it was a great event with positive engagement and reach.
Soul Sisters: Empowering People
The event overall was really friendly and collaborative.
We had some real meaningful conversations, with 31 people showing a genuine interest in our organisation. Our domestic abuse outreach was impactful, and we have definitely raised awareness and visibility of our organisation.
Samaritans
The event at Rochdale Riverside was very good. We welcomes volunteer interests from 8 people, and had support chats with 7 others. The support we received from Action Together was excellent...we're really looking forward to the next one!
Transport for Sick Children
It was a lovely venue with great people, and we were pleased to have two positive conversations around interest in volunteering with us.
The event was really useful for network outreach.
There was great on-the-day support, and we appreciated the drinks and equipment provided.
Mind
Great event overall with a friendly welcome. Of the 47 attendees to speak with us, approximately 60% have expressed an interest. It was great to raise awareness of Mind as many people were unaware of the volunteering opportunities we have. There was great communication before and during the event and we enjoyed taking part in the day.

Get involved!
Missed our Fair? Don't worry...we're still here to help! Whether you’re new to volunteering or looking to build on your experience, we can support you on your volunteering journey
Check out our online directory of local volunteering roles,
or get in touch with us at volunteering@actiontogether.org.uk