Originally founded in 1938 as the Women’s Voluntary Service, WRVS celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2008.
WRVS was initially formed to help civilians during the Second World War - in evacuation, emergency feeding and providing general care and support. Since then, our services have evolved and we are now a major service provider giving practical help, particularly for older people, to enable choice, independence and dignity so people can enjoy an improved quality of life - all with the help of nearly 53,000 volunteers.
You can find out more about our history from timeline of the first 70 years of WRVS by clicking on either the links below.
WRVS history
WRVS history [128KB]
More detailed information can be found in the
fact sheets section.