The Community Volunteers is a new pilot programme that offers a new way to bridge the gap between communities that need support and the people who want to help. It was developed based on lessons learned about volunteering during COVID-19 to help us further strengthen and support volunteering in our communities. It gives people the opportunity to get involved in local events and festivals while also supporting more urgent needs that arise unexpectedly, like the community response to COVID-19.
The programme will help organisations respond effectively to needs in our communities by allowing them to engage enthusiastic, local Community Volunteers through their local Volunteer Centres who have raised their hand to say they want to get involved and help.
The programme will be delivered by local Volunteer Centres and will initially run in seven counties – Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Louth, Meath and Wicklow – with more counties joining at a later stage.
The programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and coordinated by Volunteer Ireland and the network of Volunteer Centres, with support from their Local Authority, in each area.
If you would like to volunteer…
Becoming a Community Volunteer is a great opportunity to get involved in your local community by supporting local events and initiatives. It’s a chance to learn more about your local area, meet new people and develop new skills. Plus, it’s great fun! It will give you the opportunity to avail of unique training in understanding volunteering, supporting urgent community responses and volunteering at events and festivals.
Learn more about the programme here.
If you would like to engage volunteers…
Becoming a partner organisation allows you to engage Community Volunteers to support local events and initiatives, and also at shorter notice when unexpected, urgent needs arise. The programme allows you to engage Community Volunteers through your local Volunteer Centre that have been recruited, interviewed, skill & interest assessed and ID checked. Volunteers will also be trained in Urgent Community Support and Event Volunteering best practice. Community Volunteers will understand the importance of communication, compassion, confidentiality, manging risks and minding their own wellbeing when volunteering.
Learn more about the programme here.
On 1st September 2021, the second meeting of the eQyvol project took place online.
The results from the consultation will be used to produce the first version of the European Quality Standards in Youth Volunteering. Next, we will organise a pilot testing involving youth volunteering organisations from all across the EU. Based on the feedback from the testers, we will define and implement the necessary improvements before the publication of the final version of the European Quality Standards in Youth Volunteering in November 2022.