VOLUNTEERS came together in Peebles to celebrate Volunteers Week.

Between June 1-7 organisations and groups in Peeblesshire and across the UK celebrated their volunteers of the past and present.

The theme of this year's event was 'celebrate and inspire' and Peebles celebrated with a community picnic.

A Peebles & District CAB spokesperson said: "With this national theme the aim is to highlight that our diversity is our strength, show that there is more than one way to volunteer and encourage people to be the change that we want to see.

"Volunteers are always active at the heart of every UK community so taking the time during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate and recognise efforts and all they contribute to our local communities; the voluntary sector as a whole has never been more important."

According to recent figures, more than 1,500 people volunteer with CABs across the UK.

The spokesperson added: "In Peebles & District CAB our volunteers contributed approximately 6,000 hours since April 2020 and at National Living Wage that would equate to £62,520.

"Our client financial gain for the period is £1,416,575.68

"We celebrated by having a picnic lunch in the Peebles Community Garden, an opportunity for us all to come together and celebrate our two most recent trainees receiving their Certificate of Competence, meaning that their training is now complete."

If you are interested in joining as a Peebles CAB volunteer contact branch manager Gill Westwood on 01721 721722, by emailing gill.westwood@peeblescab.casonline.org.uk, or by visiting the branch at the Chambers Institution on Peebles High Street.