Projects Supported by ME4U
The ME4U Volunteer Project has been supporting a number of groups through training, information and developing models of good practice.
The ME4U Project Officer is working with the Downstrands Family Resource Centre to develop an approach to recruiting volunteers for their youth projects. Downstrands Family Resource Centre is one of the county’s newest Family Resource Centres and they are keen to involve volunteers in every aspect of their centre. The hope is that in developing an effective model of recruiting and supporting volunteers with their youth projects the Centre will be able to use this approach in other areas of their community work.
A series of training evenings held in February and March and delivered by North West Volunteering Centre based in Derry / Strabane, were attended by members from nine organisations. The feedback on the sessions was extremely positive. Groups that attended included: The Friday Club, Stranorlar; GROW; John Paul Youth Club, Balybofey; IWA; Ardara Community Child Care; PWDI; Tir Hugh, Ballyshannon.
A presentation of certificates for those who attended the training was held on Thursday 17th May with the Chairman of North West Volunteering presenting the certificates to the participants. If your group or organisation would like to get support on the issues of volunteering please contact the ME4U project by clicking here.
Recruiting Volunteers
The Manager of the Donegal Volunteer Centre is currently working with Inishowen Women’s Outreach in the recruitment of volunteers for the vital service they offer. There was a very positive response to a recent recruitment process by Inishowen Women’s Outreach. Colleen Boyle, the Centre Manager is now supporting the Manager of IWO, Mary Doherty in other aspects of the volunteer management process. Colleen commended IWO on their professional but welcoming approach to women expressing interest in volunteering with the service. She said that IWO were developing a high standard of volunteer management practice that would offer a good model for other groups.
Supporting Inishowen Groups
Inishowen Women’s Outreach, a community based group working with women experiencing domestic violence, met with the Manager of Donegal Volunteer Centre recently to look at a range of volunteer management issues. Mary Doherty, Manager of the Women’s Outreach explained that their service to women and children living in Inishowen depended on the willingness and availability of volunteers to continue its vital work. Because there are so many demands on the small core of workers and volunteers, there has previously been very little time to spend trying to address the volunteering issue in a more strategic way. “The volunteers we have are an amazing and dedicated group of women”, Mary said “but they are stretched to the limit with everything that is required to be done. “We need to attract more volunteers and be able to offer them a range of possible volunteering opportunities to meet their own needs and interests. There are so many activities we would love to involve volunteers in but we need to be clear on what volunteers would be expected to do, that they are suited for the particular tasks and that we are prepared and able to give them the support and training they need.” Mary, along with the Chairperson of the Outreach committee, Kathleen Gallagher, said they were delighted to be able to avail of the support and expertise of the Donegal Volunteer Centre.
