A NUMBER of volunteering events have been planned around the district from today as part of the nationwide Volunteers’ Week.

Staff from Yorkshire Building Society will be giving up there time in a local school and woods near its headquarters as part of the scheme, which runs from today until Wednesday, June 7.

The Society will also be celebrating a decade of volunteering in Bradford during the week.

Since 2007, more than 70,000 hours have been given up by YBS staff for charities and good causes around the UK, with staff at YBS’s head office in Bradford and its branches in the city centre, Keighley, Bingley and Shipley giving up 8,577 hours to projects in the district.

Some of the highlights of the tens years of work include 697 hours of work supporting pupils at Southfield Special School since 2015, 2,131 hours gardening and decorating at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford between 2014 and 2016, and chief executive Mike Regnier volunteering at Inn Churches.

This week, staff will be visiting St John’s CE Primary School in Cleckheaton, where they will deliver financial education lessons to the pupils.

The ‘Money Minds’ sessions will focus on keeping money safe and budgeting through a series of activities.

Staff will also spend time at Bowling Woods, creating woodland habitats for wildlife and clearing and laying a new path for the use of the local community.

Local causes are also being encouraged to visit YBS branches to find out how they can benefit from YBS’s scheme.

Louise Neill, community manager for volunteering at YBS, said: “Volunteers’ Week is a great reminder of the contribution voluntary work can make across the UK and we know first-hand about the impact it has brought in Bradford.

“Over the past 10 years we have seen that time can be just as valuable a gift as money to charities and community groups.

“That’s why the Society’s programme gives us the opportunity to support projects and charities in our local community here in Bradford and we want to hear from more local groups that need support.”

Volunteer events are also taking place at Baildon Community Link from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday, June 3, from 12pm to 3pm on Monday, June 5, in Lister Park, and in City Park on Tuesday, June 13.