Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Volunteering Matters!

Time to go through the photo gallery on your phone because we've got some news for the shutterbugs...

Say Cheese! 

This year we are launching a brand new photography contest as a part of the Awards. We want to see the amazing volunteers of Ireland in action! Share your pictures of volunteering in your community for a chance to join us at the Awards ceremony. We’ll be displaying the photos at the ceremony, as well as sharing them with national and local media and on our social media channels.

Nominations for the Volunteer Ireland Awards are open!

The Volunteer Ireland Awards are the major annual initiative to celebrate volunteers in Ireland. The awards shine a light on the remarkable achievements of volunteers around the country by honoring them at a national level.

 

There are no limits on how long someone has volunteered, type of volunteering, or age so nominate anyone you think is an asset to the community.

 

Nominations of individuals or duos are accepted in the following categories:

• Arts, Culture & Festivals
• Campaigning & Activism
• Children & Youth
• Environmental & Animal Care
• Health & Wellbeing
• Safety & Emergency Services
• Social Inclusion & Community Support
• Sports & Recreation

There are also categories for groups of volunteers!

Volunteer at Culture Night

Culture Night/ Oíche Chultúir is a national moment, celebrating culture, creativity and the arts and seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day.  It is delivered nationwide in cities, towns, villages and rural locations as well as online and through media partners. 

 

On September 20th 2024 doors will open later and special and unique events will be specifically programmed at participating locations and, thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council and Local Authorities across Ireland, all activities will be available to the public free of charge.

 

Volunteers will be stewarding and assisting at cultural sites across the country, as well as contributing creatively. From photography in Donegal to storytelling in Dublin, there are so many opportunities to both create and take in the art of Ireland!

Revenue: volunteer expenses?

As you may know, Revenue introduced new rules this year around reporting expenses paid to staff (referred to as Enhanced Reporting Requirements or ERR). There was a lack of clarity on if this applies to volunteer expenses too. Revenue have now confirmed that volunteer expenses do not need to be reported to Revenue. Learn more here. 

And lastly,

Does your organisation engage volunteers, or do you work as a Volunteer Manager? Then don't miss our upcoming training sessions!

European Funding Opportunities for Capacity Building

Tues 17 Sept

Join Jemma and Suzanne from Léargas to find out how funded European projects can support you to upskill your volunteers and volunteer managers, develop your organisation and make an impact in your community. 

Measuring the impact of your volunteering

 Thurs 26 Sept

 

Measuring the impact of volunteering activities is important and we can help with the tools to do this!

Mutual performance reviews for volunteers

Mon 30 Sept

Performance reviews are a reflection of the importance of volunteers in an organisation. It's a mutual way to express appreciation, identify problems and needs, and determine the volunteer's future involvement.

www.volunteer.ie