👋 Hello and welcome to the April edition of Volunteering Matters! 🌼
Book your place at our 2023 Conference; be inspired by a mental health activist's story; get ready for National Volunteering Week next month; and find out about our upcoming workshops!
Book your place at our 2023 Conference
📅 National Volunteer Management Conference – 26 April 2023, Galway
If you engage with volunteers in your paid or voluntary work, then you can't miss the National Volunteer Management Conference 2023! The Conference takes place Wednesday, 26 April 2023 at the University of Galway.
Join us for a one-day conference dedicated to creating positive volunteering experiences. Learn from leading figures in Ireland's voluntary sector, as well as international experts.
📢 Get your ticket today! Visit our website to view the conference programme and reserve your place. We hope to see you there!
GET YOUR TICKET
Volunteer story: 'There are so many organisations that need your voice, your perspective, your wisdom'
🧠 Mental Health activist Blezzing Dada volunteers with SeeChange, spunout, and A Lust For Life. ♾️
"Life as an autistic person is never easy. Society has formed the bias, discrimination and stereotypes of being autistic," says mental health activist Blezzing Dada from Dublin.
"We are not the issue. Society is... April is Autism Acceptance Month but autistic self-acceptance never ends and is not always linear.
"I am asking people to see autistic people through a social model as being neurologically diverse. We are people who want to be defined by our strengths and not by a medical pathology that seeks to limit us by whatever our medical pathology predetermines.
"Not from a point of deficit. We are seeking to change that narrative and say that we are neurodiverse and we have a place in the world.
"Remember that you are perfect the way you are, the way you feel about yourself matters. The way others perceive you doesn't.
"I consider myself a global citizen, a human before anything else. My personal experiences reflect my passion and desire to immerse into communities and cultures via transformative justice lens.
"With volunteering; find what resonates with you, and you will find you are able to engage in a sustainable and purposeful way. Many people’s efforts today are in response to their former selves. They’re showing up for the child they were and filling that gap that they felt in their lives. That’s their way of giving back and showing appreciation.
"Contribute to being the change that you want to see. Figure out what brings you joy, because that’s what will keep you engaged.
"There are so many organisations that need your voice at the table, as well as your perspective, your wisdom and your intellect. Examples of where I do this are with SeeChange, spunout, mutual aid work/grassroots work with Cooking for Freedom Ireland, and A Lust For Life."
💜💙💗 Thank you to Blezzing for sharing her inspiring story!
📢 Share your volunteering story with our followers! We're looking for stories from people who feel volunteering has improved their lives. 📨 Please email
[email protected] if that sounds like you!
SHARE YOUR VOLUNTEERING STORY
Get ready for National Volunteering Week!
🌟 15-21 May 2023
We can't wait for National Volunteering Week next month! 🤗 National Volunteering Week is a weeklong celebration of volunteering that will take place from 15-21 May 2023. This year's theme is 'Connecting Communities' and we hope you'll join us in celebrating the power of volunteering to enrich our communities, bridge social divides, and create opportunities for meaningful connections. 💜💙💗
You can get involved by:
📢 Sharing your volunteering story (email
[email protected] to be featured on our social media)
🙋 Encouraging others to volunteer
🙌 Thanking volunteers!
LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIONAL VOLUNTEERING WEEK
Thank you, Volunteero!
😊 Meet our 2023 Conference sponsor
We're delighted to have the support of Volunteero to deliver this year's National Volunteer Management Conference. Volunteero is a volunteer management software that makes it easy for organisations to set up and manage their
volunteers.
Volunteero will be attending the conference and will be available to
answer all of your questions, either at their stand or during their session. Make sure to come by and say hi!
"We are really excited that Volunteero is sponsoring the National Volunteer Management Conference," says Mushka Cohen-Gluck of Volunteero. "We are looking forward to attending and meeting the volunteer leaders of Ireland."
LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERO
Pay it forward ➡️
Know someone who'd enjoy Volunteering Matters?
Then celebrate International Microvolunteering Day (April 15) by forwarding this email to them! 📨
And lastly,
Does your organisation engage volunteers, or do you work as a Volunteer Manager? Then don't miss our upcoming training sessions!
National Volunteer Management Conference
Wed 26 April
Our Conference enables and enhances volunteering through the promotion of best practice in volunteer management.
The fundamentals of microvolunteering
Thu 13 April
FREE
Join us on Microvolunteering Day to explore all aspects of microvolunteering.
Volunteer wellbeing workshop
Thu 25 May
Learn to support volunteers to manage stress and encourage them to mind their mental health and wellbeing.
VIEW OUR FULL TRAINING CALENDAR
www.volunteer.ie
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