Promoting Good Practice in Community Organisations Across Fingal County

The Fingal Managing Volunteers Award Scheme was part of the Fingal Volunteer Centre and Fingal County Council’s activities to celebrate European Year of Volunteering 2011, and is intended to acknowledge groups who, through their commitment to voluntary and community activities, have played a significant role in enhancing the quality of life of their communities across Fingal.

Organisations involving volunteers will have the opportunity to apply for the award by completing the eight indicators at either level 1,2 or 3, and the Fingal Volunteer Centre will provide support training and online resources for the Award Scheme.

This Free information session and workshop which runs in Malahide Library from 10.30 to 1.30pm on Tuesday 18 September will help guide you through the award on the first steps to achieving the award at level 1, 2 or 3. Come along on the day and meet Fingal Volunteer Centre staff and find out how you can participate in the award, you'll also hear from previous partcipants about the imapct it has on on volunteers in their organisation.

Please note that all parking is pay and display in the area.

Register to attend this free event now or find out more about the award.

As part of National Volunteering Week 2012 Fingal Volunteer Centre invited to join our staff in a clean up project along the Royal Canal around Clonsilla, Coolmine and Blanchardstown on Friday 18 May from 1pm to 3pm.

We will be collecting litter on the stretch of the canal alongside the 3 railway Stations. This project is part of the National Inland Waterways Clean Up. Our Inland Waterways are a precious natural resource. With the help of Waterways Ireland and Fingal County Council, we will help maintain the beauty of our waterways - and the importance of keeping them clean! We will meet on Friday 18 May at 1pm in the car park of the Clonsilla Inn Pub on Clonsilla Road. 

For more information check out this information.

The conference will feature The First Global Summit on Corporate Volunteering The first presentation of the IAVE Global Corporate Volunteering Awards The first IAVE Global Dialogue on NGO-Corporate Volunteer Partnerships, featuring leaders from global companies and international NGOs focused on the partnership response to natural and man-made disasters The first Global Convening of Volunteer Centers Since 1970, IAVE’s World Volunteer Conference has been the primary global convening of leaders of volunteering from throughout the world.  

The Program of the 22nd IAVE World Volunteer Conference
WVC 2012 will be different than past IAVE conferences. This one will have a more narrowly focused program and, thus, a more targeted participant group.

Outreach Moldova are having a Volunteer Information & Pre Departure Training Day on April 21st in the Radisson Blu, Saint Helen's Hotel in Stillorgan in Dublin.

This is a free event & is open to all members of the public, to book a spot you simply phone our office on (01) 219 0268.

VSI are holding a Volunteer 2012 Info Event on Thursday, 19 April 6.30pm in Irish Aid Centre, Dublin

Come along to their Volunteering 2012 Info Event and find out about 700 International Volunteer Projects (from 2 weeks to 1 year) which you can be involved with this year through VSI in over 70 countries worldwide. We will introduce our projects in Ireland; Europe (east and west); North America; Japan and Australia Africa, Asia and Latin America; Middle East and North Africa Long Term Volunteer Programme including European Voluntary Service Youth programme Local volunteer work in Dublin If you would like to attend, just email the VSI office More details from www.vsi.ie

Dublin Volunteer Management Seminar (Tuesday 15 May 2012)

Please note that there are no tickets left for this event and registraions are now closed.

Pearse Street Library, 138 - 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. 

As part of National Volunteering Week (May 14 – 20) Dublin Volunteer Centres have organised a Volunteer Management Seminar looking at topics affecting Volunteer Involving Organisations.

Programme
13:30 - 13:45 Registration
13:45 - 13:55 Opening Address: Yvonne McKenna, CEO Volunteer Ireland
13:55 - 14:35 Session 1: The relationship between Volunteers and paid Staff. Etain O’Kane
14:35 - 15:15 Session 2: Risk Management in Volunteering. Stuart Garland
15:15 - 15:30 Refreshment break
15:30 - 16:10 Session 3: Involving Older People as Volunteers. Etain O’Kane
16:10 - 16:50 Session 4: Garda Vetting - Myths and realities Tricia Nolan
16.50 - 17:00 Closing remarks: Edwina Dewart, Manager Dublin City South VC.
17:00 Close of Seminar

Who Should Attend?
• Groups and organisations from the Greater Dublin Area (large and small) currently involving volunteers or those thinking of involving volunteers.
• Individuals (paid or unpaid) working directly with volunteers or who are responsible for managing volunteers in some capacity.

Registration
To attend this Free seminar you must register via our online booking system Please note that entry is by ticket only and tickets are limited to 100.

Download a brochure for the seminar (Adobe Pdf)

Registration is now open for the 23rd CEV General Assembly and Multi-Stakeholder Symposium to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark on 9th-10th May 2012.

The reflection and debates on the topic “Volunteering for stronger societies through innovation and cross-sector collaboration” will gather more than 160 participants, professionals from the voluntary sector, businesses and decision-makers.

Should you be interested to participate, register as soon as possible by sending the registration form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The deadline for early-bird registration is 15th March 2012. The provisional programme and the registration form can be found on the CEV web site

You are invited to a Fundraising Volunteer Recruitment evening at The Croke Park Hotel, Jones’s Road, Dublin 3 at 8pm on Tuesday February 21st.

Irish guide Dogs would encourage you to bring along any family, friends, and colleagues that you think might like to help our worthy cause. As you may know our services rely heavily on support from our volunteers especially our puppy walking and fundraising activities.

In these difficult economic times, we have experienced a severe decline in our income and we are very dependent on a small number of active Fundraising Volunteers. We face an urgent challenge to increase our income if we are to continue to provide our current services to clients. At our Volunteer Recruitment evening, we will provide you with updates on our current status.

Our objective is to boost our volunteer numbers. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to ensure that you have fun and enjoy working with us. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and we very much hope that you will join us on the night. Again, we would remind you of the opportunity to invite others along as guests. The more the merrier!

Please let us know if you will be joining us by calling (021) 487 8236 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Finbarr Roche Corporate Fundraising and Volunteer Recruitment Officer

VSI will hold their Volunteer 2012 Information Event on 29 February 2012 at 6.30pm Irish Aid Centre, O'Connell Street, Dublin 1.

Come along to our Volunteering 2012 Info Event and find out about a wide range of International Volunteer Projects (from 2 weeks to 1 year) which you can be involved with this year through VSI in over 70 countries worldwide. We will introduce our projects in Ireland; Europe (east and west); North America; Japan and Australia Africa, Asia and Latin America; Middle East and North Africa Long Term Volunteer Programme including European Voluntary Service Youth programme Local volunteer work in Dublin

If you would like to attend, just email the  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Behind Ireland’s thousands of volunteers lie the equally dedicated individuals and organisations responsible for their recruitment, training, support, and management.

These are the people that can inspire volunteers and enable an environment where volunteering can thrive. These are the people that inspire volunteers and enable an environment where volunteers thrive.

This is your opportunity to join your peers, colleagues and leaders in the field of volunteer management from all over the world for a day of professional development, networking and informative, thought-provoking workshops.

Who Should Attend?

•    Groups and organisations (large and small) currently involving volunteers or those thinking of involving volunteers.

•    Individuals (paid or unpaid) working directly with volunteers or who are responsible for managing volunteers in some capacity. 

•    Anyone looking to gain an in-depth understanding of best practice in volunteer management.

The programme

Our programme will give you an insight to volunteering here in Ireland and will also include insightful inputs from International Speakers on their experiences in Australia, Canada and the UK.  Martin J Cowling is our keynote speaker this year and will look at the issue of equipping paid staff to work with volunteers.  Tony Goodrow from Canada will introduce us to The Scarce Resources Model for Measuring the Return on Investment of Volunteer Engagement while Nikki Squelch from the UK will present how your organisation can benefit from developing a Volunteer Strategy no matter what its size

Add to that presentations and workshops on Orientating and Training Volunteers, corporate volunteering, The Dublin Tall Ships Festival Volunteers and the London 2012 Olympic Games and you’ve got the event for those managing volunteers like no other … come network and learn with us …

Book your place online now

Measuring the impact of volunteering activities is increasingly important as the demand for organisations to evidence the impact and outcomes from their work becomes greater. Generally, charities are very good at talking about what they are doing but are not as good at stating why they do it and what it achieves (National Philanthropy Capital, 2010).

The Volunteer Impact Assessment Toolkit provides information and customisable tools which organisations of all sizes can use to measure the impact from volunteering and therefore evidence what is being achieved.

Volunteer Now in cooperation with Volunteer Ireland are offering a one day training course on Wednesday 29 February 2012 from 10.00am - 3.30pm in Pearse Street Library, 138 – 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. The course will guide people through the Toolkit handbook. In addition, exercises and group discussion will be used to support people to understand the different stages of conducting an impact assessment and to start planning their own assessment.

The morning session (10.00am - 1.00pm) will cover what the toolkit is for, the benefits of it, how to decide who to include in the assessment and will outline considerations when choosing the most suitable tools.

The afternoon session (2.00pm - 3.30pm) will give participants the opportunity to work with raw data generated from the tools available in the toolkit and will introduce suitable analytical techniques. It will also cover ways of reporting the results of the assessment and highlight the importance of practical planning.

The training costs €100, this includes a copy of the toolkit. To book a place contact Christine Irvine: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone: (+44) 289 023 2020. Places are limited to 15 participants. You will be asked to complete an invoice on the day of the training. To find out more about the Impact Assessment Toolkit go to: VIAT Web pages on the Volunteer Now web site.

Download a flyer for this event (Adobe pdf)

Volunteer Now works to promote, enhance and support volunteering across Northern Ireland.  Volunteer Now is about connecting with individuals and organisations to build healthy communities and create positive change. Web: www.volunteernow.co.uk

Volunteer Ireland is the national Volunteer Centre. Volunteer Ireland is the national volunteer development agency and a representative body for all local Volunteer Centres in Ireland. Web: www.volunteer.ie

Volunteer Ireland is delighted to announce that they recently secured funding from the EU as part of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 to develop a framework for a national quality standard for involving volunteers. This is in recognition of the key role best practice standards play in improving the quality of experience for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.

In order to ensure that the new framework is representative of the needs and views of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland, Volunteer Now has commenced research (via questionnaires and focus groups) to gather the views of both volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations on what should be included in the standards.

To attend a focus group please contact Christine at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Focus group participants will be reimbursed for their travel expenses. 

Focus Group details:

To celebrate the diversity, dedication and hard work of our dedicated volunteers in Fingal County Fingal Volunteer Centre will be holding a very special event on Monday 5th of December 2011. Invites have been sent to volunteers across a wide range of organisations from all over Fingal.

We look forward to meeting you all on Monday 5th December.

Fundraiser in aid of The Irish Cancer Society to be held on 11th September, 2011. “TT 3D Closer to the Edge”. Eclispe Pictures Distributors and UCI Cinema, Blanchardstown have kindly allowed us to show one of the most breathtaking Motor Cycle Road Racing Movies every made.

This is “TT3D Closer to the Edge”, a documentary movie on the 2010 Isle of Man TT Festival. The Movie was released in April 2011 to critical acclaim.

….“Blisteringly tense…. Fantastic..Stunning.. .Brillantly captures the thrill and risk of the race .. It looks astounding…You’d have to be a right helmet to miss it” **** News of the World review.

“Exhilarating and enjoyable 3D film about the world’s most dangerous road race and the elite riders who risk everything to take part. The 3D brings you right into the high-octane excitement, though the film is as much about the personalities as it is the motorcycles. High speed thrills and spills makes for spectacular viewing” ****  Sunday Mirror.

“A powerful portrayal ... Stunning ..." Motor Cycle News.

For those people who were unlucky enough to miss the movie on its general release, we are staging a Once Off, Last Chance To See, in 3D on the Big Screen on the 11^th September, 2011 in UCI Cinema, Blanchardstown. Dublin 15. All proceeds to The Irish Cancer Society.

Tickets for “TT3D Closer to the Edge” Sundays 11th September, 2011 at 10am UCI Cinema, Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin 15 - can be reserved by contacting Frank Clarke (086) 277 9699 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

On line donations/ticket payment via My Charity.ie link -

http://www.mycharity.ie/event/tt3d_closer_to_the_edge_fundraiser/

Face book link 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=271609519532731

For further information, please contact Frank – 0862779699/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Ann Byron Murphy – (087) 270 5258  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In common with most families in the country Frank and I have lost family and friends to Cancer. Personally as a 14 year survivor of Breast Cancer and because of our experience we were motivated to get involved fundraising for ICS.

Cancer will affect one in three people in Ireland during their lifetime. The Irish Cancer Society is the national charity for cancer care in Ireland. The Society work to ensure that; Ireland has a world class cancer service; Fewer people get cancer, through health promotion, cancer prevention, screening and research and that those with cancer will be treated early and will have better survival rates. If you are concerned about cancer please call the National Cancer Helpline on Freefone 1800 200 700 (open Mon–Thurs, 9am–7pm and Fri 9am–5pm) and speak to a cancer specialist nurse today.

Have you ever thought about volunteering in Europe but don’t know where to start? 
Do you know anyone aged 18 – 30 who may be interested in volunteering in Europe?

As part of the European Year of Volunteering, Léargas will be running a ONE HOUR training on the basics of European Voluntary Service and how to get involved. There will also be display stands where you can collect publications and information on EVS. 

Where – Europa House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 1

When - Tuesday 23rd August and Thursday 25th August 12pm - 1pm on both days.

How – This is a drop in event so there is no need to register just turn up on the day. There is also no fee for the training.

We look forward to seeing you there.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Volunteer Ireland is organising a national conference for volunteer managers on the Wednesday 9 November 2011. 

The theme is “Enabling and Enhancing Volunteering through Best Practice in Volunteer Management”.

Behind Ireland’s thousands of volunteers lie the equally dedicated individuals and organisations responsible for their recruitment, training, support, and management. These are the people that can inspire volunteers and enable an environment where volunteering can thrive.

Join your peers, colleagues and leaders in the field of volunteer management for a day of professional development, networking and informative, thought-provoking workshops.  The conference provides a day of broad based, affordable seminars and workshops for professionaland unpaid volunteer managers in Ireland.  

Who Should Attend:  This conference caters to anyone involved in managing volunteers, whether paid staff or voluntary, from any level, sector or category.  Anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of volunteer management and best practice is welcome to attend.

The event will be held in Dublin’s Morrison Hotel and promises great speakers such as Rob Jackson and engaging workshops. 

Download the Conference brochure (Adobe pdf)

Fingal Volunteer Centre are delighted to annouce that we will be attending the Blanchardstown Library / Europe Direct Volunteering & Community Information day on Wednesday 21 September from 1500 to 1900.  The aim of the event is to provide general informaiton about volunteering opportunities in the locality to members of the public.  Fingal Volunteer Centre along with volunteering involving organisations from the Dublin 15 area will be there on the day, we hope to see you there.

Come along to our Volunteering 2011 Info Event and find out about a wide range of International Volunteer projects (from 2weeks to 1 year) which you can be involved with this year through VSI. We will introduce our projects in Ireland; Europe (east and west); North America; Japan and Australia; Africa, Asia and Latin America; Middle East and North Africa; Long Term Volunteer Programme; Youth programme.

Wednesday 27 July at 6.30pm in Irish Aid, O'Connell Street, Dublin 1

Is your organisation considering involving volunteers?
Are you new to managing or coordinating volunteers?
Would you like some help or need some advice?

This session is aimed at organisations setting out on the path of engaging volunteers in their group. It is designed to help groups understand the best ways to involve volunteers, understand volunteer expectations, and start on a path to ensuring volunteers become a core and positive part of your organisation. The session is about 2 hours long, interactive, fun and a good way to meet like minded organisations. It was developed by Volunteer Ireland, the national volunteer development agency, in conjunction with local Volunteer Centres.

10.30 to 13.00 Tuesday 10 July 2012
Room 1, 2nd Floor, Blanchardstown Library, Dublin 15

The information session is intended to give you an introduction to Fingal Volunteer Centre and give you an oversight of steps involved in engaing volunteers in your organisation.  Places are limited to 12 participants per session. Refreshments will be provided. There is no cost for this information workshop as it is being subsidised by Fingal Leader Partnership and Fingal Volunteer Centre. Organisations participating should be from Fingal and should be starting out to engage volunteers or have recently engaged volunteers.

In order to secure a place, please complete the online registration. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Book your place online now using our online registration system

Is your organisation considering involving volunteers?
Are you new to managing or coordinating volunteers?
Would you like some help or need some advice?

This session is aimed at organisations setting out on the path of engaging volunteers in their group. It is designed to help groups understand the best ways to involve volunteers, understand volunteer expectations, and start on a path to ensuring volunteers become a core and positive part of your organisation. The session is about 2 hours long, interactive, fun and a good way to meet like minded organisations. It was developed by Volunteer Ireland, the national volunteer development agency, in conjunction with local Volunteer Centres.

1900 to 2030, Tuesday 25 September 2012
The Grange Art Gallary, (off the R129) Ballyboughal, Fingal, County Dublin.

(Please note this location is outside Ballyboughal and while it is signposted we suggest you read and print out these directions and map) 

The information session is intended to give you an introduction to Fingal Volunteer Centre and give you an oversight of steps involved in engaing volunteers in your organisation.  Places are limited to 12 participants per session. Refreshments will be provided. There is no cost for this information workshop as it is being subsidised by Fingal Leader Partnership and Fingal Volunteer Centre. Organisations participating should be from Fingal and should be starting out to engage volunteers or have recently engaged volunteers.

In order to secure a place, please complete the enclosed booking form and return to Fingal Volunteer Centre as soon as possible. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Register now online for your place at this workshop