Volunteer Centres Ireland (VCI) is the national body with responsibility for promoting and developing volunteering

Volunteering

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...

 in Ireland, both locally and nationally. VCI is a membership organisation, established by volunteer centres to co-operate and network on any issue relating to volunteer centres and volunteering in Ireland. VCI's work is funded and approved by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.

History

Volunteer Centres Ireland began in the year 2000 when some of the earliest volunteer centres in the Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 (including what is now the South Dublin County Volunteer Centre, the Volunteer Centre Fingal and Volunteering Ireland), came together to discuss common issues that affected them. In 2001, it was decided to formalise this grouping and Volunteer Centres Ireland was born. VCI adopted a constitution, membership criteria and agreed aims and objectives.

Since its inception, the membership of VCI had lobbied government to support a national infrastructure of volunteer centres, central to the recommendations of Tipping the Balance (2002). In January 2005, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Volunteering published its report, Volunteers and Volunteering in Ireland, in which it specifically recommended that the existing volunteering infrastructure be developed through volunteer centres and Volunteering Ireland . A few months later, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs announced a package of funding measures to realise that recommendation. Core funding from the department was extended to all the volunteer centres (previously only the South Dublin County Volunteer Centre and Volunteering Ireland had received core funding) and VCI itself received funding to employ a national development officer. On February 9, VCI once again addressed the Oireachtas Subcommittee on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs on volunteering trends in Ireland.

Types of voluntary work

• Conservation, the environment and gardening

Conservation volunteers

Volunteering

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...

 repair footpaths, clear ponds and waterways, plant trees, build dry-stone dykes, create nature trails. The work can be done at weekends.

• Learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities have difficulty understanding new or complex information, learning new skills or coping independently.
So the volunteer can help with activities, sports and crafts and social clubs, youth clubs and resource centers. Provide one to one support to families or individuals as befrienders or advocates. Assist at summer playschemes for children with learning disabilities.

• Mental health

Mental health problems come in a variety of forms. Many involve feelings of depression, anxiety and confusion, sometimes to an extent which makes it difficult for the person to cope with everyday life. Only a small number of people experiencing mental health problems are admitted to hospital. Most are treated and supported in their community. So the volunteer can assist at drop- in centers and social groups by helping with activities, chatting to people or providing a listening ear. Also provide one to one support as befrienders or advocates.

• Advice work

Volunteer advice workers offer confidential advice and information to members of the public. Some advice centers give a very wide range of information e.g. Citizens Information Centers. Others are more specialist e.g. working with homeless people or people with a disability. Advice agencies look for a long term commitment from volunteers and training can last up to three months.

• Adult basic education

Many adults and young people want to improve their reading, writing or numeracy

Numeracy

Numeracy is the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts. A numerically literate person can manage and respond to the mathematical demands of life...

. Adult basic education provides tuition in groups with paid and volunteer tutors. Volunteers must attend a training course and be prepared to give a long term commitment, perhaps helping once or twice a week for a minimum of a year. Volunteers can tutor people who have difficulty with basic skills. Teach English as a second language. Help deaf students with language development and students who have a disability. They can also work with people who have speech and language difficulties as a result of a stroke.

• Fundraising

Charities need to have diverse and imaginative ways of raising funds for their work. Volunteers can organise or take part in sponsored events, street collections, fun runs, etc.; help in charity shops; be on a fund raising committee.

• Office work

Many organisations have an ongoing need for volunteers to do office administration such as reception, filing or typing. Others need volunteers to help out at busy times e.g. publicity campaigns or fundraising drives. Volunteers can do reception and administration work, financial or management committee tasks, computing, "one off" pieces of work such as setting up a database, producing publicity material or devising a marketing strategy.

• Older people

Most opportunities to volunteer in this field are with frail older people or dementia

Dementia

Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...

 sufferers, and are mainly in the daytime. They include helping at lunch clubs or day centers- perhaps serving teas and lunches or assisting with quizzes, games and reminiscing activities. Delivering "Meals on Wheels" or library books to housebound people, befriending and home visiting. Also, helping in residential homes and hospitals e.g. reading to patients, playing board games.

• Homeless

With people living in temporary or hostel accommodation or those sleeping rough. Volunteers can help at drop in or night shelters, providing hot drinks and meals and giving support. They can be trained to give information and advice or work alongside paid workers in outreach work on the streets.

• Practical assistance

Some organisation need DIY/ building volunteers to paint and decorate, carry out repairs or put up shelves.

• Befriending

Befriending

Befriender

Befrienders are carefully selected volunteers, from a variety of organisations and mental health charities, who are trained to provide support and companionship to lonely, or emotionally distressed, people. Befrienders will usually visit for an hour or so per week. The meeting is usually arranged...

 involves giving support and friendship to someone who may be going through a difficult period, is feeling lonely, or is adjusting to a major change in their life.
Befriending schemes can support older people, lone parents, families with children under five, adults with disabilities or health problems.
Volunteer befrienders are matched with a client (perhaps because they share an interest or are of a similar age). They meet on a regular basis, perhaps to go shopping, go to the cinema or simply to have a chat over a cup of coffee. Befriending may aim to encourage the client's independence, build their self-confidence or offer social contact beyond their immediate family. Befrienders are carefully selected and trained and receive ongoing support.

• Physical disability

Volunteers can work with groups dealing with specific conditions such as arthritis

Arthritis

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....

, cancer, or epilepsy

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...

 or with more general disability.
Volunteers provide one-to-one support as a tutor, befriender or peer counsellor.

• HIV/ AIDS/ DRUGS

With individuals and families affected by HIV AIDS or drug dependency. Volunteers can help out at a drop in or information center, be a befriender in a 'buddy' scheme. Provide practical help such as gardening, driving, baby-sitting, or painting and decorating. Also participate in preventative, educational and awareness raising work.

• Driving

Many disabled or older people are unable to leave their homes due to a lack of suitable transport. Volunteer drivers provide a vital service helping them to get out and about, perhaps to a day centre or social club. Some organisations have their own vehicles whilst others need drivers with their own car. Perhaps the best known volunteer drivers are the 'Meals on Wheels' fleet.
The insurance requirements of organizations may differ, but usually a volunteer has to be aged over 23 years and have a clean driving license. Minibus drivers may be required to sit a test. Volunteers using their own car will normally be paid petrol expenses.

• Hospital work

Volunteers can visit and befriend patients, help in hospital shops, provide trolley and library services. They can also escort patients on outings and help with social activities.

• Children and young people.

There are creches and playground for under fives. For 5–12 years old children there are after school clubs, junior youth clubs and holiday playschemes helping with games, arts and crafts, music and sport. For 12 years plus children there are youth clubs and drop-in centers providing varied social, leisure and outdoor activities, as well as issue based work e.g. Health promotion or drugs awareness.
Volunteers also can provide one to one support for children who are experiencing difficulties at school or at home. There are also well known youth organisations such as the Scouts and Girl Guides

Girl Guides

A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...

.
Volunteers working with children must be prepared to undergo a Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána

, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...

 check.

• Other areas of volunteering include :

-support for victims of crime

-work with ex-offenders

-telephone helplines

-bereavement/ relationship counselling

-mediation services

• Residential

The volunteer may wish to get involved in voluntary work and actually 'live in '.

• Team volunteering

Groups of friends or colleagues can get together for a one-off volunteering project e.g. painting a mural, creating a wildlife garden, decorating premises or organizing an outing for a group of people.

National Day of Volunteering

In September 2007, Volunteer Centers Ireland launched the first annual national day of volunteering, "Give it a Swirl Day!". The first annual national day of volunteering took place on Wednesday, 26 September 2007. Working in cooperation with member volunteer centers and a myriad of other voluntary organisations, County and City Councils, Tidy Town

National Tidy Town Awards

May refer to:*Australian Tidy Town Awards*Tidy Towns *Newfoundland and Labrador Tidy Towns Competition...

 groups, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, businesses, residents groups, youth groups, as well as families and individual volunteers.

List of centres

There are now 20 VCI Member Volunteer Centres across the Republic of Ireland.

• Carlow Volunteer Centre

• Clare Volunteer Centre

• Cork Volunteer Centre

• Donegal Volunteer Centre

• Drogheda Volunteer Centre

• Dublin City South Volunteer Centre

• Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre

• Fingal Volunteer Centre

• Galway Volunteer Centre

• Kerry Volunteer Centre

• Kildare Volunteer Centre

• Longford Volunteer Office

• Meath Volunteer Centre

• Mayo Volunteer Centre

• Monaghan Volunteer Centre

• Sligo Volunteer Centre

• South Dublin County Volunteer Centre

• South Tipperary Volunteer Centre

• Westmeath Volunteer Centre

• Wicklow Volunteer Centre

External links

• Volunteer Centres Ireland is a member of CEV - the European Volunteer Centre
  European Volunteer Centre
  The European Volunteer Centre ) is a European network of currently 88 mainly national and regional volunteer centres and volunteer development agencies across Europe and beyond that together work to support and promote voluntary activity. CEV channels the collective priorities and concerns of its...
  
  
• VCI website
• [/http://www.volunteer.ie/-National-day-of-Volunteering-.html National Day of Volunteering website]
• "Tipping the Balance" (Report on Irish volunteering, 2002)

Media reports

• "Volunteers needed to Give it a Swirl'", Carlow People, Ireland, 19 September 2007
• "Plenty Give it a Swirl' and clean up Arklow", Wicklow People, Ireland, 27 September 2007
• "Volunteer registrations on the rise", Nenagh Guardian, Ireland, 8 February 2008
• "Volunteer Group Reports 'Explosion' in Active Citizenship", Epoch Times, Ireland, 23 September 2009