❄️ Hello and welcome to the December edition of Volunteering Matters! ⛄
Meet Ireland's Volunteer of the Year 2022; be inspired by Christmas volunteering stories; get some festive ideas for volunteering this December; and find out about our upcoming workshops!
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Happy International Volunteer Day!
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🎉 Happy International Volunteer Day! Today is a day to recognise the tireless work of volunteers across the globe, including here in Ireland.
🙌 Thank you to Ireland's inspiring volunteers for your compassion and solidarity. You make our communities better places! 💜💙💗
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Volunteer of the Year 2022: Gwen Maher
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🏆 Gwen Maher is a coach and mentor with Cumann Báire Setanta GAA 🥎
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🎉 Following the Volunteer Ireland Awards ceremony on Friday, it's our great honour to announce that Gwen Maher has been named Ireland's Volunteer of the Year!
🎉 Gwen has devoted over eight years to volunteering with Cumann Báire Setanta GAA Club in Ballymun, Dublin:
Gwen’s passion for supporting young people’s development on and off the pitch shines through in the numerous ways she supports Cumann Báire Setanta. As well as being a mentor, coach, member of the club executive, referee coordinator, GAA camp coordinator, and event planner, Gwen also supports the development of young players off the pitch, finding ways to include them in the community and develop their life skills.
Gwen is credited with keeping young people in Ballymun engaged in sports and connected to their community, and increasing by 50% the number of girls who continue to be involved in the GAA club.
Gwen's friends at Cumann Báire Setanta praise her helpful, caring, and resourceful nature, which they say shine through in eveything she does.
"Never in a million years did I think I'd be on stage accepting an award for doing something I love," Gwen told the audience when accepting her award last night. She took the opportunity to urge other parents to volunteer with their local sports clubs as a way to connect with and uplift their children.
👏👏👏 Please join us in congratulating Gwen on her well-deserved win!
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Nominees and awardees at the Volunteer Ireland Awards on Friday, 2 December
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Volunteer Ireland Awards 2022
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✨ Individual volunteers, volunteer groups, and volunteer managers were honoured in Friday's ceremony 🥳
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🏆 Last Friday in the Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown, we were delighted to celebrate the amazing volunteers who enrich our communities.
🏆 Listed below are the awardees in each category. Learn more about them and everyone shortlisted for a Volunteer Ireland Award on our website.
- Arts, Culture & Festivals: Veronica Kelly and Sarah Wood, Leitrim Pride
- Campaigning & Activism: Bertie O’Hainmhire, Trócaire, Galway
- Children & Youth: Edel Finn, Books for Ukrainian Children in Ireland, Dublin
- Environment & Animal Care: Carmel Rooney, The Cat and Dog Protection Association of Ireland, Meath
- Health & Wellbeing: Teresa Condron, Rossinver Calling, Leitrim
- Safety & Emergency Services: Karen Smyth, Louth and East Meath Defibrillator Unit & Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes, Louth
- Social Inclusion & Community Support: Ini Usanga, Love and Care for People, Cork
- Sports & Recreation: Pat Hayes, Clonmel Town FC, Tipperary
- Volunteer Manager: Carmel Murray, Irish Cancer Society, Dublin
- Large Group: Volunteer Driver Service – Irish Cancer Society, Nationwide
- Small Group: Steering Committee – Clonmany Mental Health Association, Donegal
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This Christmas Eve, volunteers will deliver meals to hundreds of Cork families
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🎄 Feed Cork expects to be busier than ever this Christmas 🎅
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"Feed Cork is more than a food bank," says founder Hamp Sirmans. "We're there for people when they need us... to be able to sit down and talk to people, to hear their stories. It's so rewarding to be able to be there for people."
With the support of 40 volunteers, Cork's only food bank, Feed Cork, provides food to hundreds of people in need every week. With the cost of living crisis, Feed Cork predicts they'll be busier than ever this Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, volunteers will deliver meals to hundreds of families across Cork who may not have a special Christmas meal otherwise. Last year, they delivered around 650 meals on Christmas Eve. With a "100 per cent increase in people coming" to Feed Cork, they estimate that their volunteers will deliver significantly more this year.
💜💙💗 Thank you to all the amazing volunteers helping Feed Cork this Christmas! ❄️
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🎅 Spread some cheer in your community this December by volunteering!
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🎄 For those who celebrate Christmas, it can be a lovely time to give back and lend a hand in your community. Charities and community groups across the country are looking for volunteers to support their activities this festive season.
Lots of local Christmas events are seeking volunteer stewards, musicians, face painters, entertainers, fundraisers, and more.
🎁 Check out the 'Xmas roles' highlight on our Instagram to view current volunteering opportunities around Ireland.
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Does your organisation engage volunteers, or do you work as a Volunteer Manager? Then don't miss our upcoming training sessions!
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Wed 7 December
A workshop for organisations interested in retaining volunteers and encouraging good performance.
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Mon 12 December
Learn what your organisation can do to ensure your volunteers have a positive experience.
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Tue 31 Jan
Upskill on your lunchbreak! Join us for a free interactive session about volunteer policy:
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