Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is celebrating the amazing contribution their local volunteers make to the charity during Volunteers Week from 1st to 7th June by thanking them all for being the "golden thread" running through the organisation helping to bring communities together.

The charity values the enormous impact of the golden thread of volunteering within the organisation and will be holding celebrations throughout the week. In the South West of Scotland, volunteers give the charity more than 12,700 hours of their time each year to support services in the community and raise funds.

Roger Smith, Chairman said "I would like to take this time to recognise the effort, care and time that our volunteers give to us. Whether their support is spent helping to raise vital funds or to provide life changing services, they make an invaluable contribution towards the success of our charity. Our volunteers really are the golden thread of the charity helping us to bind communities together across Scotland.

"As well as celebrating the work of our existing volunteers this national week of action offers Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland the chance to promote the benefits that volunteering can bring

"Volunteering is a win win situation! Not only can your time make a real difference to people living in your local community it can also be good for your own health. Volunteering can help to beat stress and by keeping physically and mentally active can often improve your own state of mind."

To find out more about volunteering opportunities with CHSS please visit www.chss.org.uk/volunteering or call our Volunteer Enquiry Line on 0800 169 5139.