Stroud Volunteer Centre will present a special lunch and awards ceremony on Thursday June 5 to commemorate community volunteers.

The ceremony, which marks national ‘Volunteer Week’, will be hosted at Stroud Old Town Hall, and will honour those who have given up their free time to help the disadvantaged. Special long service awards will be presented to volunteers who have served between 5 and 25 years.

More volunteers are needed though, and charity invites anyone to take part in an activity which can have a real and lasting impact on the lives of those taking part.

The volunteer centre has directed over 600 volunteers in the last 12 months to many local organisations, including those supporting disability, youth, heritage and the environment.

Additionally, under the Volunteer & Community Action umbrella, services are also offered for those who need support in entering a volunteer role and the Ring & Ride bus service, which carries those without transport all over the Stroud district.

The lunch will take place between 12pm and 2pm, for more information visit www.vcastroud.org