The Offaly Volunteer Centre will facilitate and help you to find a volunteering opportunity with our registered organisations.  We will give individuals information and guidance on how to get involved in volunteering.

If you have any questions about volunteering please contact the Offaly Volunteer Centre This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You can fill out the online form from the homepage 'Volunteer Now' section and someone from the Volunteer Centre will contact you to discuss your options as a volunteer.  We recommend you take a look at the tips for making a Volunteering choice below as well as other useful articles that may help you …...  Take a look at the 'Find an Opportunity' section on our homepage for some ideas of things you can volunteer to do. If nothing there that you would like please let us know and we will let our organisations know what skills you have to share.

Offaly Volunteer Centre is a new service and we will endeavour to source many volunteering opportunities from around the county. We hope to get a wide and varied selection of opportunities from our organisations so Volunteers can choose the categorty and the geopraphical region most suited to them.

We welcome your views and feedback on what's important for volunteers and for volunteering in your area. Just contact us using the above links.

Useful Volunteering Information

• Ten Tips For A Wise Volunteering Choice
• Your Rights As A Volunteer
• You’re Responsibilities As A Volunteer
• Be Aware Of Your Needs
• Reasons For Young People To Volunteer
• Volunteering and Social Protection Payments

Who Volunteers?

Anyone can volunteer. It doesn't matter whether they are young or old, male or female, able bodied or disabled, in paid work or not, there is something they can do. Some people volunteer a few times a year when they have spare time, others give a regular commitment of several hours per week and some even volunteer on a full time basis. 

A volunteer is someone from the community who contributes to the development of the community. They are valued as individuals who bring a unique contribution to the group with whom they work. Volunteers work for no reward other than the development of themselves and the community. They accompany others towards a common goal. 

Volunteering covers many varied and different activities, from visiting an elderly or sick neighbour; getting involved in a youth club, scouting or guiding club; assisting a charity with its finances or administration; helping someone to read and write; the list is endless. 

Volunteering is defined as the commitment of time and energy, for the benefit of the society and the community, the environment or individuals outside ones immediate family. It is undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain. 

Volunteering as defined by ‘Third Age Foundation’ 

Volunteering is…….

• A vibrant expression of active citizenship and community employment.
• Undertaken by choice without concern for financial gain.
• Driven by it’s outcomes and impact.
• A means of adding value to the work of an organisation or group.
• Never a substitute for paid employment.
• Based in grass roots participation yet incorporates the business community and government.
• A unifying theme which creates cross-sectoral partnerships.
• A tool for the promotion of inclusion and part of the wider equality agenda.
• A dynamic force for change, which has positive effects on the volunteer, individuals, organisations and communities.
• A tool for empowering people and communities to fulfil their potential and contribute to social change.
• A mutually beneficial gift relationship, which meets the needs of both volunteer involving organisations and volunteers.

Volunteering has traditionally been service giving, mutual aid and self help, advocacy and campaigning, and community action. All forms of volunteer activity provide a network of social relationships that connect people to their communities. It is this connection that is vital to building democratic, healthy and self-sustaining communities. Volunteering is relevant to all spheres of life and volunteers are making a positive impact on the economic, social cultural and environmental issues of our time.

© 2009 Third Age Foundation, Summerhill, County Meath, Ireland

http://www.thirdagefoundation.ie