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.

Download a brochure for the seminar (Adobe Pdf) or find out more information or register your free place in our events section now.

Tender for background research for a campaign to increase the numbers of older people in volunteering across Dublin City 2012 is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. Research on the benefits of volunteering among older people is well documented, as is the invaluable support they provide to the community.

At the same time the contributions older people make or could potentially make to volunteering has yet to be realised, primarily due to societal attitudes and a lack of awareness. People are living longer and active ageing is about getting more, not less, out of life as people get older. Part of the ring fenced funding volunteer centres receive in 2012 will go towards showcasing the contribution of older volunteers across Dublin city, raising the profile of volunteering among people aged 55 and older, and increasing the number of older volunteers. There will be three phases to the project: research and planning, implementation and evaluation.

The successful candidate will be awarded the contract for the research phase. Closing Date for submissions: Tenders should be mailed (electronic or hard copy) to: Edwina Dewart Dublin City South Volunteer Centre 76 Thomas Street Dublin 8 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrive on or before 5pm Friday 20th April, 2012 Please note that late submission of tenders will not be accepted

Tender_Older_People_Volunteering

Turn2me is an online support community for anyone wishing to share, discuss and offload their thoughts and feelings directly but anonymously with others. The site is supportive, confidential, non-judgemental and anonymous. Turn2me is a thriving organisation which is growing rapidly. We are now looking for a Volunteer Coordinator Our structures and working processes have undergone review and formalisation in recent months to ensure that the best standards are followed and that we can help as many people as possible.

Turn2Me is overseen and supported by: 1. Board of Directors 2. CEO/General Manager 3. Volunteer/Moderator Coordinator 4. Clinical Advisory Panel

Turn2me is now seeking a Volunteer Coordinator for 20 hours per month, who will be responsible for: Interviewing moderators and assessing their suitability for the role. Going through forms and reference checks and the recruitment and evaluation standard operating procedure and checklist. Supervising moderators and auditing the forums, driving quality and improvements. Conducting individual clinical moderator supervision sessions Supervising the updating and evolution of the moderator handbook Answering the day-to-day questions of volunteers This is a part time work-from-home position, although it will be necessary to attend occasional meetings in Dublin.

ESSENTIAL qualifications: Relevant postgraduate qualification in psychology, social sciences, community work, mental health or related other. At least five years postgraduate experience Experience supervising a team, preferably providing clinical supervision Garda vetting will be required for the successful candidate. To apply, please email a CV and cover letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Come along and see our stand on Thursday 29 March from 130p to 4pm in Dillon House. You'll have the opportunity to meet and chat with some of the volunteer centre staff and find out a little about volunteering in Fingal.

Book your place now by calling Gráinne now (01) 920 9550 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Mayo Volunteer Centre wish to recruit for the post of Manager with Mayo Volunteer Centre. Mayo Volunteer Centre is funded through the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government. The Mayo Volunteer Centre manages the process of matching potential volunteers with volunteering opportunities and organisations throughout the County.

The primary objective of the organisation is to promote and support volunteerism in Mayo.

 The duties of the Manager will include: Assist the steering committee in the development and design of a strategic plan for the sustainability of a county-wide volunteer centre in Mayo. Monitor and Implement the strategic plan Develop the centre as a viable resource for voluntary and community groups and volunteers, including implementing appropriate policies and practice guidelines across County Mayo. dentify and seek additional funding opportunities for the centre and future project developments. Promote and develop concept of volunteering to all sections of the community.


The successful candidate will ideally possess the following: Direct management experience in a similar or related field Appropriate 3rd level qualifications or relevant Community and Voluntary sector experience Leadership and management skills Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Experience of planning and managing budgets. Experience of developing and implementing strategic plans/ work plans. Ability to work with a very wide range of individuals and organisations. Leadership and management skills Commitment to community development principles Excellent ICT skills and preferably experience with Sales force or similar web based database.A driving licence and access to a car for work purposes.



This is a full time position based in Mayo Volunteer Centre, Ballina but with a County wide remit. To apply, please send a copy of your curriculum vitae electronically to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or addressed to Chairperson, Mayo Volunteer Centre, Cathedral Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

 Closing date for application is Friday 9 March at 5 pm.

For further information and a job description please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Interviews for this position will take place on Wednesday, Thursday 21st March. All applications will be treated in confidence. Mayo Volunteer Centre is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of society.

In 2012 a number of the volunteer centres in Dublin will be coming together to provide a series of workshops and seminars on volunteer management. These will be in addition to the standardised Volunteer Management Training courses all volunteer centres run, details of which can be found on www.volunteer.ie

We love your feedback, it will take less than 1 minute to complete.  Select your top topics for our Volunteer Management Seminar

Job Title: National Volunteer Manager
Type of Contract: 2 Year Fixed Term
Contract Number of Hours: 35 Hours Per Week Location: Dublin
Closing Date: Monday 5th February, 2012

The Role: To lead on the development and implementation of: A national volunteer strategy A volunteer programme Social innovation, community participation and active citizenship initiatives and projects The Person: Will have at least three years experience in a leadership role and have a proven ability in effective management of volunteering and/or community development and capacity building.

Applications: CV & cover letter to bernie.redmond@cheshire or post: Bernie Redmond, HR Officer, Cheshire Ireland, Block 4, Bracken Business Park, Bracken Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18

Cheshire Ireland is an equal opportunities employer. All successful candidates will be subject to vetting by the Garda Vetting Unit. Join us in working to create innovative, community-based supports designed in partnership with each individual person.

VSI seeks EVS Volunteer for Youth NGO in Kiev, Ukraine Feb –Dec 2012 VSI has an immediate vacancy for an EVS volunteer in Kiev, Ukraine.

The EVS volunteer will undertake a long-term EVS placement for 10 months based at Alternative-V in Kyiv, Ukraine. The volunteer will be helping staff members and volunteers of Alternative-V in the implementation of a wide range of public and social activities organised by the NGO. The main objectives of the project are to develop intercultural learning and exchange of experience in the sphere of youth work. The volunteer will have the possibility to experience participation in volunteering activities, to get acquainted with different methods of educational youth work, to be involved into promotion of volunteering activities, trainings and other educational activities for youth. Besides a volunteer will have a chance to get involved into the work of institutions and organization Alternative-V is cooperating with (these are different social NGOs which work in different fields – environmental, social, youth development, children protection, HIV/AIDS prevention and so on).

A volunteer will have a possibility to see different methods of work of these organisations, get acquainted with their goals and needs and to get knowledge about the social sphere of Ukraine in general. This EVS project in Ukraine will involve cooperation between VSI in Ireland and the All-Ukrainian Association for Youth Cooperation “Alternative-V” who will host the EVS volunteer for 10 months. The main themes of the project are growth of intercultural awareness, mutual understanding and social responsibility among young people , popularisation of volunteering as an activity and possibilities suggested by Youth in Action programme. Alternative-V” - is a non-political, non-profit non-governmental youth organisation, founded in 1992. “Alternative-V” was created to facilitate co-operation among youth organisations, to promote active citizenship among Ukrainian youth through their involvement into programmes in the fields of education, culture, ecology, historical heredity protection and helping disadvantaged people. Alternative-V wants to contribute to development of more peaceful society, decrease of social injustice and growth of tolerance and intercultural understanding. The main activities of the organisation include short-term voluntary projects - international youth voluntary workcamps in different regions of Ukraine, long-term voluntary projects, seminars, conferences and trainings on both national and international level, youth exchanges and educational programmes.

Contact Tom Ryder at VSI for more details. Tom Ryder Voluntary Service International 30 Mountjoy Square Dublin 1 Tel: (01) 855 1011 www.vsi.ie

Blanchardstown / Dublin 15 Citizens Information Centre is looking for new volunteers

• Do you have some time to spare?
• Do you want to help your community?
• Do you have an open mind?

We are hosting an open day for new volunteers on 10th February 2012 Please contact the Blanchardstown / Dublin 15 Citizens Information Centre for more information Tel 0761 075 040 Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or drop in to Blanchardstown / D15 CIC Westend Office Park, Snugborough Road Ext, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Do you know a young person whose volunteer work has helped paint a brighter future in your community?

Or are you a young person who has had a very positive and rewarding volunteer experience?

If so, you are invited to submit a nomination for the Helping Hands Young Volunteer Awards, 2012

What is the Helping Hands Award?
The aim of the Award is to promote the spirit of volunteering by encouraging and supporting young peoples involvement in volunteer activities.

Taking place at our annual Volunteer Ceremony, the lucky winner will be presented with a Barnardos Helping Hands Award for their contribution to their community. The winning entry will also receive a personal computer, kindly donated by our Awards sponsor, Softech.
The Awards lunch this year will take place on Thursday, 15th March, Davenport Hotel, Lower Merrion St, Dublin 2.

Who can enter?
Any young person under 25 years of age can be nominated. You can nominate yourself or nominate another person.

What is volunteering?
Volunteering can be any activity that involves giving freely of personal time to help others and that contributes to creating a healthy society to live in.

Examples are:
• Environmental and conservation projects
• Fundraising 
• Helping in the local community 
• Working with disadvantaged groups 
• Helping in youth groups 
• Mentoring programmes 
• Volunteering overseas
The list is endless...

How do you enter?
It’s simple! Send us your story outlining why you or the person you are nominating should receive a Barnardos Helping Hands Award.

We want to hear about:
• The experience of volunteering 
• Who it helped 
• What the activity involved 
• How long it took

Your entry submission should be no more than 500 words maximum printed clearly on A4 paper, and must be accompanied by the entry form overleaf. Photographs, videos or art work can be submitted to support your entry.

The deadline for nominations is 29th February 2012.

For further details check out our website at www.barnardos.ie 

Voluntary citizen participation is an essential part of civil society, which in turn is a key contributor to sustainable development, human rights, good governance and social justice. 2011, the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10), saw an upsurge of such action in different forms in many countries around the world.

Looking back on 2011, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme have combined to analyze contemporary trends in voluntary action and make recommendations for policy-makers, civil society, and volunteer involving organizations, in our new publication, Broadening Civic Space through Voluntary Action.

The publication concludes that policy-makers, donors, NGO leaders, and others involved with civil society should see volunteerism as a valuable part of a spectrum of participation and social activism. This encourages an understanding that people volunteer for a diversity of reasons, in a range of ways, and in service of a variety of goals. The publication argues that these key stakeholders need to take on board a broad understanding of what constitutes voluntary action. This broad understanding should include a range of possibilities from formal volunteering roles in various kinds of organizations, to less formally constituted service for the community, online volunteering and individual moments of activism.
 
This publication has identified a need for new responses, driven by lessons from recent mass citizen actions, the CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) research findings and trends in volunteerism. It has suggested possible pathways for strengthening both non-formal voluntary action and organized civil society; as well as enhancing the link between the two.  The objective of this new joint UNV-CIVICUS publication is to promote further discussions and enhance -development of innovative practices.

Sligo Volunteer Centre invites applications for the post of: Volunteer Centre Manager (4 day week) (Maternity Cover: 6 month contract to begin March 2012. Possible extension subject to funding)

Base: Base is Sligo town but role covers a County wide remit.

The Sligo Volunteer Centre (SVC) is part of a national network of volunteer centres in Ireland. Sligo Volunteer Centre has been established to promote volunteering in County Sligo. This involves assisting volunteers to find voluntary roles & supporting organisations to manage volunteers effectively.

The position includes:

• Overall management of the centre including its staff & volunteers.
• Responsibility for financial control and returns.
• Oversee the strategic direction of the work of the centre.
• Along with the Board of Directors, begin process of establishing a new strategic plan for the centre from 2013-2015.
• Continued promotion & development of the concept of volunteering to all sections of the community.

The successful candidate will have:

• A minimum of 2 years Management/Project Management experience in a similar or related field.
• Appropriate 3rd level qualification or relevant Community & Voluntary sector experience.
• Experience of leading and managing a team.
• Excellent ICT skills and preferably experience with Salesforce or similar web based database.
• Experience of planning and managing budgets.
• Experience of strategic planning.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A driving licence and use of a car.

For an information pack & further queries, please contact Ciara Herity at (071) 911 1042 or by emailing  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Applications in writing with relevant detailed Curriculum Vitae by Friday, 20th January, 2012 to:

The Board of Management,
Sligo Volunteer Centre,
1 Gaol Road,
Abbeyville Terrace,
Sligo.

Please mark envelopes "Private & Confidential". Shortlisting of candidates may apply based on information provided.

Sligo Volunteer Centre is an Equal Opportunities employer

Sligo Volunteer Centre is funded by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and Sligo County Council

Placement Officer (Part time, 20 hour week)
Fingal Volunteer Centre is the primary resource for both volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations in County Fingal (North County Dublin).

We believe in the ethos of volunteering and that it is an important expression of civic engagement. Our mission is to help individuals find meaningful opportunities to volunteer and to build the capacity of not-for-profit organisations to involve volunteers in their work. We are now recruiting for a Placement Officer (part-time) to join our staff team to assist in the delivery of our placement service.

Overview of Role
The Placement Officer (part-time) is responsible for assisting the current staff and volunteer team to deliver a comprehensive and accessible volunteer placement and organisational support service across Fingal County. The post holder will play a key role in working collaboratively with local agencies to meet shared objectives in the areas of volunteer recruitment, promotion of volunteering and support to volunteer-involving organisations.
Key areas of work will include

• To recruit volunteers, matching them to volunteering opportunities in local organisations across the Fingal County. 
 
• To support volunteers throughout the placement process, including following up with volunteers to assess quality of their placement. 
• To identify areas of need, under-represented groups and barriers to volunteering with a view of developing strategies to respond to these needs and gaps. 
• To work closely with the staff team to enhance the services of the Centre and meet the targets set out in the work plan.

Downloads
Job Advertisement (Adobe pdf)
Guidance Notes on completing the application form (Adobe pdf)
Role Describition / Person Specification (Adobe pdf)
Application Form (MS Word) 

Please note CVs will not be accepted. Closing date for receipt of completed application forms and cover letters is 5pm on Friday 30 December 2011.  

Due to the nature of the Christmas post we will only accept emails sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   Late applications will not be accepted. Shortlisting will take place in early January 2012 and interviews will take place on Thursday 12 Janaury 2012. This post is part funded by the Department of Community, Environment and Local Government.

Major volunteering-centred events set for 5 December 2011
In Nepal, over the course of 20 years, 50,000 community volunteers have helped reduce child mortality by a third. After the Japan tsunami, thousands of individuals stepped up to assist relief efforts. And in West Africa, a new volunteering service is bringing together people from war-torn Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Guinea Bissau in a spirit of solidarity.

New York, USA, 1 December 2011: Next week, the United Nations General Assembly will listen to the testimonies of volunteers as they explain the impact they make on the communities they work with.

People from all walks of life can have an extraordinary impact on development and peace. On International Volunteer Day, 5 December, high profile UN events are set to highlight how much volunteering matters.

The first UN State of the World’s Volunteerism Report will be launched during the General Assembly’s morning plenary session on volunteering. The Report is expected to enhance perspectives of volunteerism worldwide, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark will make a keynote speech. The Report’s senior writer will then explain the content, and the volunteers will tell their personal stories.

The long-term future of volunteering and civil society will be discussed during a side event moderated by United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme Executive Coordinator, Flavia Pansieri. The event will close with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the US Peace Corps and the international volunteer organization VSO.

Finally, to close the day, a multimedia exhibition, ‘Volunteers of the World’ will open in the main UN lobby. The exhibition aims to demonstrate the universality of the volunteer ethic in people of all walks of life. The final mosaic of ‘Light up our world’, a three-month UNV photographic project which illustrates the power of volunteer action across the planet, will also be on display.

“Throughout 2011, organizations from around the world have been marking the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers, and International Volunteer Day this year is a major milestone,” said Ms. Pansieri. “We must engage millions more people in sustainable development and long-term peace-building. Volunteering is a great way to make it happen. Together, we can change the world.”

State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) launches around the world
The SWVR will be launched in more than 70 countries and territories around 5 December or later. Launches are confirmed in Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Chad, China, Colombia , Côte d'lvoire, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Germany, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, São Tomé and Principe, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

About the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers
Volunteering empowers change from the grassroots up, especially when enabled by strong partnerships at every level. It is 10 years since the International Year of Volunteers, and the United Nations has called for this anniversary to be marked across the planet. The partners’ aims are to promote and recognize volunteering’s positive impact on peace and development, to reinforce volunteering networks, and to help all people make a difference through volunteering. www.worldvolunteerweb.org

About the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme
UNV is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development, and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers. www.unvolunteers.org

We are delighted to announce that RTÉ Weather Presenter Karina Buckley will be joining us on Monday 5th December for Fingal Volunteer Centre's International Volunteer Day event in the Carlton Dublin Airport Hotel.

Karina will be joining Stuart Garland (Manager) and Monica Lawless (Board Member) who will be speaking to the 120 volunteers at the event celebrating International Volunteer Day and the end of the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

Nurture Post Natal Depression Support Services is a new charity established in March 2011 to offer support services to Mothers, Dads and Families who are battling with the debilitating illness Post Natal Depression. 18,500 Mothers will experience Post Natal Depression in Ireland in 2011.

International Volunteer Day (IVD) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. IVD is now celebrated worldwide with thousands of volunteers involved in a range of IVD initiatives including clean-up campaigns, conferences, exhibitions, morning teas and many other activities all aimed to highlight the role of volunteers in their communities.

Download our new resource - 101 ways to recognise your volunteers now.

Top 10 ways to celebrate International Volunteer Day

Below are some of the ways that your organisation can celebrate IVD:

1. Organise an afternoon tea and present each of your volunteers with an International Volunteer Day certificate, downloadable free from the Volunteering Australia website.

2. Contact your local paper and ask them to feature your volunteers as a local story to highlight IVD. Don’t forget to give the local paper at least two weeks advance notice.

3. Use IVD to present long service certificates or other recognition to your long serving volunteers.

4. Have an open day at your premises to demonstrate the contribution volunteers make. Ask the local paper to help with publicity.

5. Use IVD as a recruiting opportunity by asking your current volunteers to bring along a friend to a morning tea – have a brief presentation to the group of potential volunteers incorporated into a thank you acknowledgement to your current volunteers.

6. Arrange for your organisation’s CEO or most senior person to send a personal note of thanks to your volunteers acknowledging their efforts on IVD.

7. Use IVD as a platform to release your volunteer statistics. How many volunteers, what volunteers contribute to your organisation etc.

8. On IVD acknowledge any training milestones achieved by your volunteers. Reminding people that you support your volunteers with training is an excellent message.

9. Use IVD as a launch date for a fundraising campaign, especially where you may be able to gain support from your local paper.

10. Organise a display at your local shopping centre. IVD is a great lever to use to gain that important, high traffic free display space.

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. If you are a volunteer or an organisation that involves volunteers in your work and would like to share your views please click on one of the links below to fill out the questionnaire. 

To receive a copy of the questionnaire by post please contact June at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or (01) 636 9446. Details of our focus groups in South or North Leinster, Cork or the Midlands are outlined below.

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. 

The national quality standard for involving volunteers will be developed by spring 2012 and will first be piloted by Focus Ireland. Volunteer Ireland envisions the final version of the quality standard will be available to all volunteer-involving organisations across the country in late 2012.

Focus Group details:

Community Alert Awareness Month 1st - 31st of October 2011 

Community Alert Awareness Month is being organised by Muintir na Tíre Community Alert volunteers throughout the country.

Muintir na Tíre - National Association for the Promotion of Community Development in Ireland, is a national voluntary organisation dedicated to promoting the process of community development. Canon Hayes founded the organisation in 1937. Muintir na Tíre aims to enhance the capacities of people in communities, rural and urban, to become involved in local social, economic, cultural and environmental development.

 Aims of Community Alert Awareness Month

1. Promote and raise awareness of Community Alert
2. Reduce Social Isolation
3. Create a forum for people of all ages and from all walks of life to volunteer in their Community.
4. Create a Safer, Caring Community.

Who Can Participate: All members of the Community.

Project Ideas: The project list below contains some ideas for possible projects that you can organise during Community Alert Awareness Month. If you are interested in hosting your own project, register it at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

Project ideas might include:
• Visit Older and Vulnerable people in your Community.
• Check on the Older Persons Socially Monitored Pendant Alarm.
• Run an activity day for Older People in your area.
• Arrange for the local Gardai to give Crime Prevention/Home Security Advice to the Older and Vulnerable People in the Community.
• Organise a Community Information day.
• Organise a Fundraising Event to raise funds for a Senior Citizens Party.
• Arrange for the Provision of Socially Monitored Pendant Alarms and small scale security devices for the Older People in the Community who have not already been provided by same.
 The Official Launch of Community Alert Awareness Month will take place in Tipperary on Monday 26th September 2011

To register your interest in Community Alert Awareness week or to volunteer to assist your local Community Alert group during the month or for more ideas about projects please contact Muintir na Tíre at (062) 51163 or email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

website: www.muintir.ie.

This Saturday, 5th November is International Volunteer Management Day, check out this video from Rob Jackson who talks about the background of the day, it's origins and offers some ways in which you can get involved in the day.

Better Together is a nationwide campaign which aims to build support for hundreds of charities, clubs and associations across the country by encouraging the public to support these good causes and make a difference in their communities.

Dirty Old Towns? is returning for a second series on RTÉ One and we want to hear about where you live ...

Does your town have derelict buildings, eyesores or ugly waste ground? Does your main street need a makeover? Has your home town let itself go? Tell us about it...

Dirty Old Towns? is a campaigning RTÉ Television series led by Diarmuid Gavin to give Ireland’s towns back their pride of place – it’s not about the government or the council, it’s not about TV sprinkling stardust – it’s about the people who live there doing it for themselves.

Following the phenomenal response to the first series, we’ll follow several rural and urban communities as they invoke the spirit of volunteerism and reclaim their birthright – a home they can proud of. We’ll tell their stories as they motivate their neighbours to work together to enhance the appearance of their town. This is about restoring local pride, and tapping into the national urge to get up and do something for themselves. A dirty town is an unvisited town, and by giving their town a fresh coat of pride, people can attract visitors and perhaps even business.
 
Diarmuid Gavin will spearhead the campaign, bring his considerable environmental and landscaping skills to each project, and his high octane blend of passion and commitment, to help communities to achieve their goals.
 
This series is not about picking up litter – it’s about putting something good where the litter used to be. Recent years has seen an increase in derelict sites in Irish towns, poorly maintained main streets, unsightly town entrances, and unused public space. Sound familiar?

You might be interested in setting up a community centre, a community garden, allotments, a community alert group to tackle vandalism and crime, clearing up a church yard, doing something with the hoardings surrounding a ghost estate, renovating a derelict building or a town hub that has fallen into disrepair. We want to know about it and any other projects you are setting up in your town.

We would like you to come forward and tell us about your town. What eyesore blights your main street? Are there derelict buildings lying empty that could be put to use? What do you want to do to put your town on the map? If you would like your area to be considered, please get in touch and tell us what you would like to see changed in your town.

You can get in contact by calling Happy Endings Productions directly on 01 669 7100 and you should ask for Rosemary Pooley or our Series Producer Katie Giles. Alternatively you can get in touch via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Are you living in a Dirty Old Town? Everyone’s got one. We’ll help you do something about yours.

Do you know an outstanding volunteer? Nominate them for the Ireland Involved Awards 2011!

Presidential Candidates Gay Mitchell, Martin McGuinness, Mary Davis and Sean Gallagher joined Volunteers from Alexandra College to encourage everybody to get involved to celebrate the National Day of Volunteering on September 30th. Last year more than 8,000 volunteers participated in hundreds of charity and community projects across the country and this year an even bigger number is anticipated.

More than half of those surveyed are doing so to help people and support their community while 43% also use the opportunity to add experience to their CV.

Volunteer Ireland CEO, Dr. Yvonne McKenna said that the survey was reflective of a growing participation in volunteering in Ireland and she highlighted that today, the National Day of Volunteering was an opportunity for more people to try something different and take part in events happening throughout the country. She stated “Today is an opportunity to have good fun and contribute to the community. Our survey revealed people who are volunteering are doing so to bring benefit to the community while also building experience in new areas of interest.”

“Given that it is National Day of Volunteering in the European Year of Volunteering there is no better opportunity for organisations to thank their volunteers and recognise the enormous contribution they make. Our survey revealed that 28% of volunteers haven’t received recognition in the last year, now is a chance to say thank you.”

Almost half of respondents had third level qualifications (47%) and of those the most common field of study for volunteers was Arts and Social Sciences at 35%, followed by 20% from Business, 9% from Marketing & PR, 8% from IT and 7% from science. Dr McKenna continued “Interestingly, the majority of those surveyed responded that they were not volunteering in an area related to their studies (62%).” 

Recognition
Dr McKenna also revealed that only 1% of the 500 respondents said they wanted public acknowledgement of the volunteering work they did. The research found that what people most wanted from the organisation they volunteered for was to ‘be accepted as a valuable team member’ (48%), followed by receiving ‘feedback about their contribution’ (19%).

Almost half of respondents (46%) claimed the most important fator in their decision to volunteer was ‘personal belief for a cause’.

Dr McKenna concluded “As 2011 is the European Year of Volunteering it is fantastic to see that the people of Ireland are so willing to lend a helping hand in their community. Last year more than 8,000 volunteers participated in hundreds of charity and community projects across the country – and this year an even bigger number is anticipated.”

This year marks the 5th annual National Day of Volunteering and is supported by Pfizer, Irish Rail and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Today, Friday September 30th is National Day of Volunteering. Thousands of volunteers are taking part in events nationwide to celebrate the day. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny encouraged the public to get involved in the National Day of Volunteering stating “Voluntary activity is a significant part of how we harness the willingness of people of all ages to help make life better for ourselves and our neighbours.

 “By sharing experience and skills across all walks of life we ensure that our strong sense of community which has sustained us in the past will continue to thrive, particularly during these challenging times. Today is a celebration of neighbourliness and of a national volunteering spirit that has always been an intrinsic part of Irish life.

“I encourage everyone to get involved in the 2011 National Day of Volunteering to show that our greatest strength will always be the potential of our people and our communities to make a real difference” he said.

Want to get involved with the National Day of Volunteering?   Browse an up to date list of registered projects from across the country. 

Click here to view the spreadsheet of existing projects.

Browse an up to date list of registered ’Knit-a-thon’ sites: Click here to view the spreadsheet of registered ’Knit-a-thon’ sites.

People across the country are being rallied to get involved in the National Day of Volunteering which takes place on Friday, September 30th.

Last year more than 8,000 volunteers participated in hundreds of charity and community projects across the country – and an even bigger number is anticipated this year.
Research carried out by Volunteer Ireland in advance of the National Day of Volunteering has found that being affected by the economic downturn makes people more likely to volunteer.

Among respondents who were either not working or working less as a result of the recession, almost 70% (69.2%) said that the change in their employment had made them more likely to volunteer.

The research also found that what people most wanted from the organisation they volunteered for was to ‘be accepted as a valuable team member’ (48%), followed by receiving ‘feedback about their contribution’ (19%). Only 1% of the 500 respondents said they wanted public acknowledgement of the volunteering work they did.

Almost half of respondents had third level qualifications (47%) and of those the most common field of study for volunteers was Arts and Social Sciences at 35%, followed by 20% from Business, 9% from Marketing & PR, 8% from IT and 7% from science. Interestingly, the majority of those surveyed responded that they were not volunteering in an area related to their studies (62%).

Volunteer Ireland CEO Dr. Yvonne McKenna said that the survey was reflective of a growing particpiation in volunteering in Ireland and she highlighted the National Day of Volunteering as an opportunity for more people to try something different, have good fun and bring benefit to the community.

Join a world record attempt
The flagship event of this year’s NDV is a national ‘Kint-a-thon’ which will see hundreds of knitters across the country attempt to break the world record for the most number of people knitting simultaneously.

Dr. McKenna said: “the theme of this year’s campaign is to ‘stick to your knitting’ – that we harness our most natural resourse, the instinct to give time to others. To register to take part in the knitathon, to find an event in your area, or to register your own event, log on to www.volunteer.ie.”
This year’s event marks the 5th annual National Day of Volunteering and is being supported by Pfizer, Irish Rail and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

2011 is the European Year of Volunteering which included the recent volunteering roadshow in EC House. These events have also helped incease the awareness and particpitation in volunteering.

About the Tyrrelstown Residents Association (TRA):

The TRA was founded in April 2008 to represent and promote the interests of the residents of all 2500 households in the Tyrrelstown development. We are proud to have established a resilient residents association and have set ourselves an ambitious agenda with a view to improving residents’ conditions, building a strong and integrated community, and ultimately making Tyrrelstown a better place in which to live.

About the Event:

The “TRA Family Fun Day” is one of the many events we run during the year. It’s an annual outdoor community festival which celebrates the area's hugely varied ethnic cultures. It is being held on Bellgree football pitch in Tyrrelstown from 3 to 6pm this Saturday 27th August. This year it will feature bouncy castles, face painting, hair braiding, magician and puppet show, ice cream, international food tasting, sports activities (including soccer, GAA, cricket, golf, Tyrrelstown Community Games & athletics) and a variety of music performances. The Gardaí will be bringing some motorbikes and hopefully their mounted unit for the kids to interact with. We will have an ambulance with a full paramedic crew on site, as well as a safety officer who will monitor and patrol throughout the day.

What we need:

We need volunteers who can supervise individual sections (for example, the queue for the face painting or bouncy castles). It’s a pretty easy job, and just involves making sure the kids behave themselves and don’t skip the queue. There will be a full volunteer briefing at 2.30pm before the event starts, and each volunteer will be given contact numbers for TRA members who will be available to help in the unlikely event that they encounter a problem. 

This is our fourth Fun Day event and we have it down to a tee at this stage. All we need is some extra hands on the wheel! Come on – get involved – we promise you’ll have fun!

Clodagh O’Donovan

Vice Chair – TRA Executive Committee

Chair - TRA Special Events Committee

086 244 2005

Funday [at] TyrrelstownResidents [dot] com

We are delighted to announce that RTÉ Weather Presenter Nuala Carey will officially open Fingal Volunteer Expo in The Pavillions, Swords at 12 noon on Thursday 1 September, come along to the Shopping Centre on the day, meet Nuala and learn about volunteering accross Fingal in this the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

While most of us may know Nuala from presenting the weather and the Lotto results, she previously worked in 'AA Roadwatch' presenting traffic reports on RTÉ Radio 1 and 2FM, and presented 'Holiday Roadwatch'.  Nuala has also presented a slot on 'Open House', presents the National Lottery 'Lotto' draws, and 'Telly Bingo' on occasion, and has appeared on 'The Den' numerous times.

We are delighted to have Nuala launch the event for us, so pencil the date in your diary now, Thursday 1 September at 12 noon.

Vinnie the volunteer and 499 of his best friends have arrived by sea at Fingal Volunteer Centre.  You can bring one of Vinnie's friends home with you by dropping into our outreach venues in 9 libraries across Fingal or drop up an email and well pop one in the post to you.

Volunteer Ireland invites proposals from qualified individuals to conduct research on and develop a framework for a national quality standard for involving volunteers, and to pilot and evaluate the framework.

Volunteer Ireland is the national volunteer development agency and a representative body for all local Volunteer Centres in Ireland. Volunteer Ireland’s vision is for an Irish society in which everyone who wants to, has access to meaningful volunteering opportunities and where the contribution of volunteering is valued and recognised as an intrinsic component of active citizenship. Volunteer Ireland work to inspire, promote, support and celebrate voluntary activity in Ireland and abroad and is the national co-ordinating body for European Year of Volunteering.

Background
Business in the Community Ireland, Focus Ireland, the National Standards Authority of Ireland are working in collaboration to develop a national quality standard for involving volunteers, in recognition of the key role best practice standards play in improving the quality of experience for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations. We have secured funding from the EU for our project under its call for flagship projects in the framework of the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

This could lead to job opportunities

IF YOU ARE HIGHLY PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH and any one of the following languages:

ARABIC, RUSSIAN, POLISH, ROMANIAN, LITHUANIAN

Accredited Course. Course accredited by the Open College Network at level 3. Course takes place over seven Saturdays from 24th September to 5th November 2011

Check out the photographs from our new Introduction to Involving Volunteers pilot course, which ran on Wenesday 10 August 2011 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown.  Many thanks to all our participants and a big thank you to Leah Carroll, our photographer.

W hope to run this course again when the pilot phase is complete, for more information on our training programmes please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  For more information on our training courses please visit our training pages.

Fingal Volunteer Centre is delighted to announce that we are the first Volunteer Centre in Ireland to be accrediated as a Sending Organisation for European Voluntary Service (EVS), our primary focus will be on supporting volunteers living in the Fingal area.  We will shortly be joined by our sister Volunteer Centre in Dublin City South who will also be an accredited EVS Sending Organisation.

European Voluntary Service (EVS), which is administered by Léargas, funds volunteers from one European country to spend time - typically six to 12 months - working as a volunteer in a not-for-profit organisation in another country. Everyone benefits: the volunteer gains experience and skills and an insight into a different way of living, while the host organisation, and those it cares for, benefit from the energy and enthusiasm of the young person, while learning about another culture.

All costs, including the pre-departure training, travel, accommodation and subsistence are paid; volunteers also receive a small monthly allowance as ‘pocket money’ during the project.

What is the age limit to participate in EVS? 
EVS is open to young people between 18 and 30 years. This means that volunteers have to be between 18 and 30 years old at the beginning of the voluntary activity. For details please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Where can EVS projects take place? 
The European Voluntary Service concerns all countries involved in the YOUTH programme. But there are some rules and conventions as to who can go where. For more information visit our EVS page.

Where do I get contact details of host organisations? 
Contact details of potential host organisations are available in the European database on accredited host organisations and via YouthNetworks.eu. It is necessary to collaborate with a sending organisation for making contact with potential host organisations. If living in a Partner Country, volunteers can contact international voluntary organisation to have more information about potential host projects.

Interested?
Firstly Check out our European Voluntary Service page for more information and resources on the programme and then email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Our EVS Accrediation code is as follows: 2011-IE-15 and is valid until 3 August 2014.

Volunteer Ireland is calling on all volunteering-involving organisations to take part.  This five-day, Pan-European event is a chance for organisations to showcase their work to the public,  recruit volunteers and celebrate the value and impact of voluntary activity in Ireland with exhibitions, workshops, interactive activities and information sessions on all things volunteering.  Each day is themed: 

Monday 22nd Volunteer! Make a Difference
Tuesday 23rd Volunteering for All Ages
Wednesday 24th Sports, Arts & Heritage Volunteering
Thursday 25th International, Health & Campaigning
Friday 26th Volunteering in the Great Outdoors

Dates: Monday 22nd - Friday 26th August, 2011
Venue: EC House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Hours: 11am - 4pm 

Application form with further info here 

Deadline Friday 29^th July 2011
Spaces are limited but we will do our very best to accommodate every applicant.  
This is a cross-border event. 

Levi Strauss & Co calls for nominations of individuals that empower their peers and ensure the creation of innovative approaches in non-profit organisations. The aim of the award is to bring visibility to activities implemented by organisations while rewarding and publicly recognizing the merits of dedicated individuals. Both the award recipient and the organisation they represent receive a monetary award. The deadline for submissions is on 15th July 2011. In order to nominate a pioneer in your organisation you must fill in the form that can be found on The Levis Stauss Pioneer Award Web site

We are delighted to present the participants of our second Fingal Volunteer Expo 2011.  The event is a part of Fingal Volunteer Centre's activities for The Europen Year of Volunteering 2011 and will take place on Thursday 1 September 2011 from 12.00 to 20.00 in the Pavillions Shopping Centre, Swords.  The Event will be launched by Nuala Carey, RTÉ Weather Presenter at 12 noon.  We look forward to seeing you on the day.

1. Age Action

2. Bereavement Counselling Service

3. CARDI

4. CASA, Caring and Sharing Association

5. Fingal Citizens Information Service
6. Fingal Community and Voluntary Forum 

7. Fingal Volunteer Centre
8. Focus Ireland

9. ECO-UNESCO

10. Foróige


11. Friends in Ireland

12. Gorta
13. Home Start Swords

14. Irish Girl Guides

15. Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
16. North Dublin Befriending Service

17. Outreach Moldova

18. Remember Us Special Needs Group

19. Special Olympics

20. Scouting Ireland

21. St. Vincent de Paul Society
22. The Volunteer Stroke Scheme

The Volunteering Strategy for Northern Ireland was agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive at its meeting on 30 June. A formal launch of the Strategy will take place in the near future. Work has also begun on the development of an Action Plan which will deliver the key priorities and associated objectives outlined in the Volunteering Strategy over the coming years.

Volunteer Now welcomes the Executive's approval of the first Volunteering Strategy for Northern Ireland and looks forward to future developments.

Download a copy of the Strategy 

Volunteer Ireland is calling on all volunteering-involving organisations to take part in this unique national event. The EYV Roadshow is a free week-long public event: it’s a volunteering recruitment fair, a chance to promote and celebrate the work that your organisation does and a expo highlighting the great value of voluntary activity in Ireland.

Organisations may apply for a stand, suggest speakers or workshops, conduct demonstrations or interactive activities, performances or even screen films.  Each day of the week is themed, to allow the widest scope and greatest number of organisations to take part. Spaces are limited but we will do our very best to accommodate every applicant.

Let’s get together to make Ireland the most engaging stop on the year’s tour!

Dates: Monday 22nd – Friday 26th August, 2011

Venue: The Public Space & EP Conference Room,  EC House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2

Public opening hours: 11.00am – 4.00pm

Application Form Here

Deadline for applications: Monday 25th July, 2011.

For more info, contact Kate McDonagh, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 01 6369446

Today there are over 750 International Volunteer Projects (2-3 weeks) in over 70 countries worldwide available through VSI. You can see all the projects on our Project Search Engine on the VSI website. If you would like to make an application for a project this year –go to applications forms on the VSI website.  In addition volunteers are needed for 5 new projects helping to -

• Helping at ECO villages in Bulgaria and Sweden
• Helping with a multi-cultural festival in Finland
• Bio Diversity and rural heritage project in Serbia
• Environmental projects and study on the theme ‘how much material growth do we need?’ in Germany
• Archaeological project in Ukraine

Long term Volunteering Programme

VSI has several opportunities for Longer Term Volunteering as well.

• The July list of vacancies which has a wide range of projects from SCI branches and partners in Indonesia, Italy, Japan, USA, Croatia, Great Britain and Switzerland.
• There are several EVS projects in Azerbaijan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraineseeking volunteers.
• More info on long term volunteering

Volunteer Centres Ireland and Volunteering Ireland have now merged to create Volunteer Ireland, a single national volunteering organisation for Ireland. The services and supports for volunteering previously offered by two organisations will now be delivered by one: from the Ireland InVOLved Awards to the National Day of Volunteering.

The creation of Volunteer Ireland is great news for volunteering in Ireland. Combining the skills, strengths and talents of VCI and VI into a single national volunteering organisation will mean we can build on the considerable achievements of our two organisations to date and increase the services and supports for volunteering in Ireland. As a bigger, better and unified organisation for volunteering, Volunteer Ireland will be far better placed to respond to the needs of volunteering. 2011 is European Year of Volunteering and Volunteer Ireland will be a fantastic legacy of it.

The focus of Volunteer Ireland will be to create an enabling environment for volunteering, to develop an ethos of volunteerism across all sectors of society and to be an independent and legitimate voice for volunteering. Working with our local Volunteer Centres, volunteer-involving organisations and volunteers, Volunteer Ireland will be a powerful advocate for volunteering in Ireland.

As of from last week, all staff and volunteers in Volunteer Centres Ireland and Volunteering Ireland transferred to Volunteer Ireland and we are all looking forward to working together to create a single, great volunteering organisation for Ireland. For the moment, of course, it’s ‘business as usual’. However, we look forward to developing our new organisation over the coming months and to sharing our progress with you.

CARDI, the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland has published a new piece of research on the issue of volunteering and ageing.  Download the research now (adobe pdf)

CARDI is a not for profit organisation developed by leaders from the ageing field across Ireland (North and South) including age focused researchers, academics, statutory, voluntary and community sector representatives with support from The Atlantic Philanthropies.

To advocate for and advance the ageing research agenda by identifying, coordinating, stimulating, and communicating strategic research on ageing and older people as a means to improve the lives of older people in Ireland (North and South) especially those who are disadvantaged.

www.cardi.ie

After two successful Polish editions of the the discover e-volunteering Competition it is now being organised on a European scale.  An opportunity to it arose as the year 2011 is the European Year of Volunteering and the same time the Polish leadership in the European Parliament. From the 25th of May till the 31st of July 2011, each non-governmental organization registered in the European Union can join the Competition by submitting its projects in which it cooperates with volunteers via the Internet!

"Discover e-volunteering” Competition is organized by Good Network Foundation and Fundacja Orange, in cooperation with the Partners of the Competition. “Discover e-volunteering” Competition is pursued under the project “Values and activities of volunteering and e-volunteering” co-financed by the European Union. The European Union is not responsible for any content generated by the project. 

Check out the video

The European edition of the “Discover e-volunteering” Competition

The staff have made a plea to any business or coporation for a team day of volunteering.  Please Read:

"St. Vincent’s Centre, Navan Road, Dublin 7 where we provide services to 400 children and adults with Moderate/Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities.

Providing Front-line services is getting more and more difficult here. Every week families can see the reduction in Services.

We have 2-schools here in St. Vincent’s, one for Moderate children and the Development Education Centre is for 40 children with Severe / Profound disabilities and challenging behaviours. The children are aged between 6 – 18 years old.

The school closes for the month of August and it would be superb if the 6-Classrooms, Dining room and Corridor could be painted during that month. Due to the challenges of the children, the place gets very shabby very quickly. With major cut-backs to our budget and staffing, we do not have funding for work like this unfortunately."

If you think that you could be the team to paint this school please contact us here in Fingal Volunteer Centre on 01 820 9550 or e-mail:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PLEA FOR A TEAM TO PAINT A SCHOOL FOR DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY

The staff have made a plea to any business or coporation for a team day of volunteering.  Please Read:

"St. Vincent’s Centre, Navan Road, Dublin 7 where we provide services to 400 children and adults with Moderate/Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities.

Providing Front-line services is getting more and more difficult here. Every week families can see the reduction in Services.

We have 2-schools here in St. Vincent’s, one for Moderate children and the Development Education Centre is for 40 children with Severe/Profound disabilities and challenging behaviours. The children are aged between 6 – 18 years old.

The school closes for the month of August and it would be superb if the 6-Classrooms, Dining room and Corridor could be painted during that month. Due to the challenges of the children, the place gets very shabby very quickly. With major cut-backs to our budget and staffing, we do not have funding for work like this unfortunately."

If you think that you could be the team to paint this school please contact us here in Fingal Volunteer Centre on 01 820 9550 or e-mail:   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you're watching videos with your preschooler and would like to do so in a safe, child-friendly environment, please join us at http://www.sesamestreet.org

Usher volunteers to explain volunteer.

Sesame Street is a production of Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit educational organization which also produces Pinky Dinky Doo, The Electric Company, and other programs for children around the world.

We have decided to use our Community Facebook Page, rather than use our Facebook Account.  If you would like to keep up with us (you know you want to!) please 'like' our new Community Page. 

To help organisations who wish to apply for the Fingal Managing Volunteers Awardwe have provided this FMVA online tool.  For each criteria and award level you will find a link or series of links that will take you to online resources on other web sites which you may find useful when you are completing your Self Assessment form at the end of your application period.

Each organisation is unique in terms of the resources that it has, which can relate to the number of people responsible for managing volunteers, the number of volunteers, the size of the organisation, the budget a

nd therefore each organisation must prove how they reach the criteria on an individual basis.  For additional support please email us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On May 8th, 2011, The Coca-Cola Company celebrated its Founder's Day. On that day, 125 years ago, the first Coca-Cola was sold in Atlanta, Georgia. Coca-Cola first arrived in Northern Ireland in 1934 and the Republic of Ireland in 1952.

While the world has changed significantly since 1886, one thing that has remained constant over the years has been the loyal support of Coca-Cola consumers across the globe. That is certainly true of consumers here in Ireland.

Coca-Cola felt that the best way to thank our consumers would be to support projects and initiatives which are having a positive impact on quality of life in communities throughout the island of Ireland.

To celebrate 125 years Coca-Cola has established the Coca-Cola 125 Years Thank You Fund, in partnership with The Wheel and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action NICVA

Coca-Cola are donating €125,000 to the fund which will be granted to non-profit community, voluntary and charitable organisations throughout the island of Ireland to help support initiatives focused on the following areas: Social and Education Programmes aimed at Youth, Healthy and Active Lifestyles, and Environmental Leadership.

Ten organisations will receive €10,000 each and five organisations will receive €5,000 each.

Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government delivered his first major address to the sector at the Wheel's Conference. 

In a wide-ranging speech the Minister set out his vision for the sector and made many points that provide a good indication of his priorities for supporting and developing the sector and our sector's role in sustaining Ireland's communities.

IBM in Ireland surpasses 56,000 hours of volunteering since 2003; IBM Extends the Service Model to Communities Around the World. DUBLIN, Ireland - June 15, 2011 – IBM today announced that as part of its Celebration of Service, a programme designed for employees, retirees and business partners, to donate their time and expertise during the company’s Centennial year, more than 200,000 IBMers around the world are volunteering in their local communities, helping with civic challenges and societal needs. Since January 2011, IBMers, retirees and their families, have donated more than 12 million hours of service to communities worldwide - with over 56,000 hours donated in Ireland. More than half of IBM’s workforce is participating in skills based volunteering in communities today. The company is also enlisting its business partners and clients as part of the celebration.

Fingal Volunteer Centre's Annual Review is now available for download.  Check out the wide range of services and activities we provided for volunteers and volunteer involving organisations across Fingal County during 2010.  Hard copies are available on request from our office.

Download our Annual Review 2010 (Adobe Pdf)

Check out this video from Volunteering Queensland featuring Susan Eilis and DJ Cronin.  Volunteering Qld welcomes volunteer managers and leaders to Susan Ellis' "It takes a whole organisation" workshop. Discussion covered critical issues with today's volunteering managing structures and effective ways to further integrate volunteers into organisations for better results.