History of Fingal Volunteer Centre

Launched in 2001, this countywide service had two volunteer centres, one in Swords and one in Blanchardstown. It was initially funded under the Department of the Environment Centenary Awards Scheme and received matched funding from Fingal County Council, with whom executive control rested.

Each centre has its own advisory group drawn from the local voluntary and community sector. The Fingal Volunteer Centre Steering Group was brought together in 2005 to drive the Volunteer Action under the Fingal Improved Cohesion Plan. The group included Blanchardstown Area Partnership, Comhairle, Co-operation Fingal, Fingal County Council, Volunteer Centres Ireland.

The project has received funding from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Cohesion Funds, Fingal County Council, Blanchardstown Area Partnership and Co-operation Fingal in the past.

Fingal Volunteer Centre is an independent organisation and has been open to the public since November 2006 initially employing a development worker, and since July 2008 a Manager and Development Worker. The Centre has offices in Blanchardstown and Swords with an outreach service in Balbriggan.

Volunteer Centre Fingal (along with South Dublin County Volunteer Centre, and Volunteering Ireland) was one of the founding members of Volunteer Centres Ireland (VCI), which is the national body with responsibility for developing volunteering in Ireland. Fingal Volunteer Centre became a full member of Volunteer Centres Ireland in 2007. Along with 22 Volunteer Centres in the Republic of Ireland, we are members of Volunteer Centres Ireland. The centre is currently funded by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Fingal County Council and Blanchardstown Area Partnership.