Free Adur Volunteering Week runs 2–8 October

Adur Volunteering Week 2026 will run from Friday 2 October to Thursday 8 October, offering free activities at various locations across Lancing, Shoreham, Sompting, Southwick and Fishersgate. It is intended for residents interested in volunteering, current volunteers and community groups that want to showcase their work.

Adur District Council says volunteering events and opportunities will be promoted through its website. Activities are already listed at Lancing Community Garden, The Circular Space in Shoreham and the National Coastwatch Institution Shoreham, with further community-led events able to join the programme.

Activities spread across five Adur communities

There is no single festival venue. Events will take place throughout the district, allowing residents to look for opportunities near where they live rather than travel to one central location. A council map will show where each participating event is being held.

The programme is designed to reflect the range of work already carried out by volunteers in Adur. Examples cited by the council include litter picking, coaching grassroots sports, delivering supplies for a food bank, running arts workshops and providing administrative support to charities.

For people considering volunteering for the first time, the week offers a way to see different roles and meet the organisations behind them. The council says volunteering can help participants develop skills and make friends, while community groups gain an opportunity to explain what they do and where assistance is needed.

Community groups can add their own events

Groups that already have a volunteering event planned between 2 and 8 October can register it through the Adur Volunteering Week 2026 form on the council website. Organisations that would like to arrange an activity during the week can use the same process to take part.

That registration instruction applies to groups submitting events. The supplied information does not specify whether residents must book individual activities before attending.

No start times, individual venue addresses, transport guidance or accessibility arrangements have been published in the source material. Residents should therefore check the council’s event listings and map for the practical details attached to each activity.

Volunteers and organisations meet on 8 October

The week will culminate in a celebration and networking event on Thursday 8 October. It will bring volunteers and community organisations together to recognise local contributions, exchange experiences and make new connections, although a time and venue have not yet been provided.

Councillor Adrienne Lowe, Adur’s cabinet member for communities, wellbeing and leisure, said the week would thank people who give their time to help others. Community groups seeking inclusion in the programme can submit the council form, while residents can use the published listings to identify opportunities in their part of Adur.

Source: Adur and Worthing Councils News