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You are here: Pat Shortt helps Launch Give it a Swirl 2009!
IRISH people were today urged to show national solidarity by giving up their time to help others during the recession.
Actor Pat Shortt and Volunteers Centre Ireland (VCI) Chief Executive Yvonne McKenna this morning launched Ireland’s biggest ever national day of volunteering.
Give it a Swirl Day on Friday September 25 will engage thousands of people all across the country in 24 hours of donating their time, skills and compassion to their fellow citizens.
“This is not just active citizenship. It’s about solidarity. Give it a Swirl Day gives those who do not already volunteer on a regular basis an opportunity to see how enriching it can be for one day and, hopefully, encourage them to continue even if it is only for a couple of hours a week,” said Dr McKenna, CEO of Volunteer Centres Ireland.
The last twelve months of economic uncertainty has seen a massive upsurge in active citizenship with the numbers of people seeking to volunteer more than doubling across the country.
“The past year has visited unprecedented hardship, stress and uncertainty on many people in this country but it has also reinvigorated the sense of community in Ireland where people have given in the most generous way possible,” said Dr.McKenna.
“Every single one of the 20 VCI Centres across the country, from Dublin to Kerry and Donegal, is reporting huge increases in the number of people seeking to volunteer.”
Volunteer Centres Ireland (VCI) says that a record total of 8,551 individuals are now registered to volunteer with the state supported national volunteering organisation. This represents an increase of more than 115 per cent on last year.
There has also been a large increase in the number of not-for-profit organisations looking for volunteers to assist them. This figure now stands at 3,650 - representing an increase of more than 1,000 over the past year.
More than 2,500 individuals have already been placed in volunteering opportunities which will generate almost one quarter of a million hours of volunteering in 2009.This directly equates to nearly 150 full-time equivalent workers and almost €3.5 million in earnings.
Dr. McKenna says the most striking aspect of the new figures is the changing profile of volunteers in Ireland and how young people are reacting to the recession.
“One positive consequence of our changed economic circumstances has been an explosion in active citizenship as people are seeking to re-engage in their communities and help both others and themselves by volunteering,” said Dr McKenna.
Seven out of ten volunteers are 35 years of age or younger. Half of these are below the age of 25. Six out of ten people who have registered to volunteer this year have never done so before.
Of the volunteers who have recently been made redundant, 60 per cent are below the age of 35.
“We have witnessed several situations where people who have volunteered have found work directly as a result of that process and who continue to volunteer while working.”
Those seeking to volunteer either on a short-term basis or learn more about Give it a Swirl Day are encouraged to visit www.volunteer.ie or contact their local Volunteers Centre Ireland.
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