Supporting Volunteering

Donegal Volunteer Centre support and encourage the spirit of volunteering throughout Donegal. It recognises the importance of volunteering as highlighted in recent Report of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship which stated that "volunteering is an integral part in shaping strong, healthy and inclusive societies." According to the report, there is no clear evidence that there are less people volunteering now than was the case in 2002; however it also recognises that the nature of volunteering is changing and that new ways will need to be developed to attract, support and recognise the role of volunteers and to support the organisations they are involved with.
 
The Volunteer Centre intends to encourage individuals to take up volunteering opportunities by promoting the benefits volunteering can offer a person, as well as highlighting the many volunteering opportunities that are available for people in their communities. The reasons people volunteer are as numerous and varied as the people themselves, therefore the ME4U Project aims to respond and support people interested in volunteering in a way that will meet their specific needs. The ME4U Project also supports individuals to find volunteer placements that meet their needs as well as those of the group with which they are matched.

The Volunteer Centre will provide support to groups and organisations that involve volunteers in developing useful policies and procedures in their volunteering practices.

The Volunteer Centre can provide training on volunteer management to community based groups; mentoring for individual groups around specific volunteering issues; events that highlight and promote volunteering throughout the county; as well as access to a volunteer website that offers information, resource material and an avenue to promote their group activities and their events. Preference with training and other supports will be given to groups and organisations that have a specific social inclusion focus.

If you would like to contact us about any of this, please click here.