Hundreds of volunteers quietly give their time, skills and energy every year to make Haslemere the vibrant community it is – and now their contribution is being put in the spotlight as This is Haslemere celebrates its two-year anniversary.

The community website was re-launched two years ago after growing out of the Haslemere for Ukraine initiative.

Wanting to keep that community spirit alive, founders Jo Mackay and Áine Hall created www.thisishaslemere.co.uk as a place to connect residents and showcase the many organisations, events and opportunities available locally.

Reflecting on the milestone, Jo and Áine said volunteers were at the heart of almost every aspect of life in Haslemere.

“These volunteers are selflessly giving the gift of their time, skills and knowledge for the benefit of Haslemere.”

This is Haslemere itself is run entirely by volunteers, with Jo and Áine creating much of the website’s content alongside contributions from guest writers.

“Our focus has always been on volunteering, local connection, events, clubs and community support,” they said. “We want to champion Haslemere and the surrounding villages and help people find ways to get involved.

“If you are thinking of volunteering, you could give an hour a week like Sarah, who compiles stats for Haslemere Food Bank, or you could give three days a week like Jude helping in the office at Haslewey.”

Volunteers across the area give their time in countless ways. Rose Parry has supported Haslemere Hospital League of Friends for years, while Adrian Stent is helping prepare for the 2027 Haslemere Festival.

Mike Young’s work at Haslemere allotments, where he has volunteered since 2012, shows that community spirit does not always come in the form of official roles or rotas.

“Sometimes volunteering is simply neighbours noticing when someone needs help and offering their time,” said Jo and Áine.

The impact of volunteers can be seen throughout town life. This is Haslemere estimates that around 70 per cent of activities listed in its events calendar are organised by volunteer-led organisations.

“If every volunteer stopped tomorrow, there would be no classical concerts from HHH Haslemere Concerts and Grayshott Concerts, charity shops would close, Haslemere Fringe and Haslemere Festival would be cancelled and there would be no more talks and events at Haslemere Museum,” they said.

“Sports clubs would end, we’d miss our films at Haslemere Hall, schools would lose their governors and PTAs, and our town would be worse off without the beautiful displays created by Weyhill in Bloom. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”

This year, Jo and Áine have interviewed almost all of the winners of the Haslemere Volunteer Awards and said one message came through clearly.

“The overriding message was that it is a privilege to give back to the community where you live,” they said.

For anyone considering volunteering, they suggest browsing the This is Haslemere volunteering directory.

“Whether you give an hour a week or volunteer full-time, the joy is finding something that fits around your lifestyle.”

Their message to organisations is simple: “Remember to thank your volunteers – it goes a long way.”