NORMALLY unsung heroes who give up their time to help others will - for once - be under the spotlight in the next seven days. National Volunteers Week, beginning tomorrow, (Friday) is intended to highlight the dedication of people without whom many community-based organisations would find it difficult to function.

The theme of this year's week - which runs until June 7 - is "Recognise, Reward and Recruit". The day after this ends, on June 8, an Oscars-style ceremony will be held at Evesham's Public Hall, when volunteers will be presented with certificates to mark their efforts. Before that, however, an open week will give people opportunities to see at first hand the work volunteers carry out across the Vale.

In some cases, this is the first time these groups have been open to the public.

The first to open its doors will be the Open Gate Toy Library at Wallace House, Evesham, on Monday morning.

The library has been running for 18 months, enabling youngsters to borrow different toys for a few weeks, along the same lines as a book library.

Also on Monday, Broadway's Signpost centre, which can help with advice on letter writing, faxing and internet communication, will be open from 10am-3pm. Based in Keil Close, it was launched in September, 1999. It also enables Age Concern to advise on benefits, pensions and other topics for people over 50.

On Tuesday HAVEN (Homeless Action in the Vale Now), set up in 1996 to give homeless people a break and help find the skills they need to set up on their own in life, throws open its Port Street doors in Evesham from 2pm-4pm. It provides housing for 17-24 year-olds, with bedsits, a communal room, laundry, showers, toilets and an advice centre and young people can drop in for help and advice on drugs, safe sex, legal disputes or benefit queries.

The CAB, at 110 High Street, Evesham, will be open from 10am-3pm on Wednesday.

Roundabout, which supplies items like furniture, crockery and electrical items to people referred by agencies, can be visited at its Wickhamford base, at Units 4/5 Bond Industrial Estate between 10am-2pm on Thursday. It began life in 1994 as the Vale Volunteer Furniture Centre and now goes as far as Redditch and Gloucester.

Coronation Street Club for the Disabled, Evesham, has been running for 17 years. It meets in Bengeworth every Friday, using an ambulance to pick up and transport wheelchair users. Members get together at the servicemen's club and will be open to the public on Friday during Volunteer Week, between 1pm-2pm. Book sales will be held in the Volunteer Centre, Oat Street, 1pm-3pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

As well as recognising and rewarding current volunteers, the organisations involved will also be keen to recruit extra people to carry on the good work. The open week activities could act as a spur to this, once visitors have seen how rewarding helping others can be.