Volunteers’ Week 2026: Celebrating the impact of APM volunteers

At Association for Project Management (APM), volunteers are a vital part of our success. They give their time, expertise and commitment to our events, research, blogs and publications. In celebration of Volunteers’ week 2026, we want to highlight some of the outstanding work our volunteers have done over the past year.

Volunteers’ week is an annual UK-wide campaign held from the first Monday in June to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers. It highlights the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK.

Launching new international Regional Networks

One of the biggest highlights of our year has been the launch of the new international Regional Networks in Victoria, Australia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These new networks have been instrumental in strengthening our global community, and they wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of our volunteers.

Victoria, Australia Regional Network connects project professionals across Australia, offering access to local developments, professional opportunities and exciting events that cater to all membership levels. Colin Taylor is the Regional Network Lead and Andrew Fox is Deputy Lead.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Regional Network offers a platform for established and emerging project professionals in the region to exchange knowledge, build skills and make a lasting impact on projects in the region. Nicola Henderson-Reid is the Network Lead and Darren Mullan is the Deputy Lead.

Volunteer Achievement Awards 2025

The APM Volunteer Achievement Awards have been running for seven years. The awards recognise and reward the invaluable contribution volunteers make to the success of APM and the wider project profession. The 2025 edition took place at the Volunteers’ Development Forum in Staffordshire on 26th June.

The award winners included APM’s International Space Sector Interest Network for Interest Network of the Year, and its founder and chair Martina Blake for Volunteer of the Year (below).  Greater Bay Area Regional Network also won APM Volunteer Event of the Year and Precious Nwagboso won APM Education Volunteer of the Year.

Project Management Challenge

The APM Project Management Challenge is an annual competition which has been running for over a decade and is aimed at those who are new to project management. It is hosted by a number of our UK Regional Networks and provides potential and emerging project professionals with the opportunity to increase their project management experience, working as a team to deliver a real project from concept to completion. The competition runs from November to April and culminates in a final awards evening, where the highest scoring teams present their project and winners are selected and announced.

Winners for the 2025 APM Project Management Challenge were:

London – Mott MacDonald

NextGen PMs raised £500 for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, boosting awareness of stray pets while developing strong project management and change‑control skills.

North East – Teesside University

Next Gen Navigators created a community‑led regeneration model for a Middlesbrough fly‑tipping hotspot, applying ESG principles and effective planning to drive behaviour change.

North West – Gleeds

Team Leading Forward built a corporate fundraising e‑handbook and supported Zoe’s Place Hospice through events, feedback systems and hands‑on CSR engagement.

Scotland – Babcock International

Team NextGen raised £2,800 and improved outreach for SAY Women through fundraising, social media support and a Ben Nevis challenge to boost advocacy.

South Wales & West England – Babcock International

Team Drake established Access Plymouth’s new Minibus Training Service, creating systems and advertising to strengthen community transport safety and long‑term financial resilience.

Thames Valley – UK Atomic Energy Authority

Team ProJET Managers ran a competitive food drive, donating nearly 300kg to Abingdon Foodbank while strengthening teamwork, communication and project management capability.

Wessex – BAE Systems

Roll it Out developed group and individual mental‑health activities for 16–21‑year‑olds, offering practical tools to reduce stress and improve long‑term wellbeing.

Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire – DWP

GoalGetters partnered with Smart Works, collecting 337 clothing items and £316 to support women into employment while strengthening community engagement and future collaboration.

What our volunteers say

Lauren Garrett, Project Coordinator in Digital Delivery: “Working alongside a diverse and high-performing volunteer community has provided valuable opportunities to contribute to a range of initiatives, support the delivery of multiple events and gain hands-on experience coordinating across different workstreams.”

Sami Ahmad, Project Manager: “What do I get out of volunteering? Honestly – everything I needed. My communication skills are sharper. My project management career has clearer direction.... Volunteering with APM isn’t just a line on my CV. It’s how I learn, connect and enjoy every moment of my professional life. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Victoria Heppell, Senior Project Manager: “Volunteering gives me the opportunity to give something back to the profession while supporting others in their development. I really enjoy connecting with people across different industries, helping create opportunities for learning and collaboration and seeing the impact that outreach and engagement can have.”

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with APM, please click here or email volunteers@apm.org.uk for more info.