HEY! Volunteering is on the lookout for new volunteers to help support expansion into the wider region.

The programme, which launched for Hull’s tenure as UK City of Culture in 2017, is taking on new recruits for the first time in two years.

The new application window will open on February 7 and close on March 21.

Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: “The volunteer programme was one of the great successes of 2017 and, since then, has continued to grow and evolve.

“The next exciting chapter for the programme will see it reach further into the region, creating additional opportunities for volunteers and supporting more organisations.

“The blue-coated army of volunteers encapsulate all that is great about our region – our pride for where we live and our unwavering support for communities, projects and each other.”

Councillor Jonathan Owen, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Volunteers play a hugely important role in promoting East Yorkshire and the programme has continued to develop since it began in 2016.

“It is exciting to see the programme expand further into a lot of our towns and villages in the East Riding and I would encourage residents to get involved to continue to support our communities.”

The programme was fundamental to the success of Hull UK City of Culture 2017 before being delivered by Absolutely Cultured until last year.

In 2021 the programme received funding for a further three years from Spirit of 2012 and moved to Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) as part of plans to increase its impact in the wider region.

The move gives volunteers the opportunity to be involved in a more diverse range of events and activities. By operating throughout East Yorkshire, rather than being Hull-focused, it is also hoped that more people from the wider region will be able to get involved in the programme.

Around 2,500 volunteers have been part of the programme since it began in 2016, resulting in more than 95,000 shifts being completed.

Through the programme, volunteers have taken part in more than 32,000 training opportunities to help develop skills and knowledge.

The programme makes an important contribution to volunteering more broadly, and to other organisations and communities across the area.

In a recent survey, almost 61% of volunteers said they had gone on to volunteer for other organisations outside of the programme and a further 10.7% had initiated or become actively involved in their communities. 44% said they would not have considered doing so if it were not for their involvement in the programme. Only 32.75% had volunteered elsewhere in either the five years prior to joining the programme, or at all.

If you would like to find out more about HEY! Volunteering, or would like to volunteer, please visit www.heyvolunteering.co.uk

You can also find the programme on social media, @HeyVolunteering on Facebook and Twitter.

The application window closes on Monday 21 March.