About Volunteer Ireland
Volunteer Ireland is the national volunteer development organisation and a support body for all local Volunteer Centres and Volunteering Information Services in Ireland. We believe that people can fulfil their potential through volunteering and that volunteering contributes to healthier and more resilient communities. We work to support, promote and celebrate volunteering. We do this in many different ways, working with a variety of stakeholders.
- Volunteers and Volunteering – We promote and celebrate volunteering in Ireland through campaigns such as National Volunteering Week and the Volunteer Ireland Awards. Along with Volunteer Centres across the country we manage I-VOL (the national database of Irish volunteering opportunities and listings).
- Charities and Not for Profit Organisations – We support national volunteer involving organisations by offering bespoke training, consultancy and an extensive range of online guides and resources on engaging volunteers.
- Corporates – We support companies interested in volunteering
- Events and Festivals – We offer volunteer management services for large-scale public events and festivals as well supporting volunteer ambassadors programmes.
- Student Abroad Service Learning Programmes – We offer volunteer placement programmes for third level students.
- Volunteer Centres and Volunteering Information Services – There are 21 Volunteer Centre and 8 Volunteering Information Services across the country who work with Volunteer Ireland. Volunteer Ireland develops and supports best practice in volunteering and Volunteer Centres, including the evaluation of Volunteer Centres according to a quality standard framework.
Our vision
Our vision is an Ireland where everyone who wants to volunteer can volunteer to create a better society.
Our values
At Volunteer Ireland we hold four high level values and these are woven through our way of working and our commitment to volunteering.
Inclusion
We work to foster a positive and inclusive workplace in Volunteer Ireland, where the talents and contribution of each member of our team can be utilised. Our policies and practice are inclusive and accessible. We value each other as equals. Everyone is encouraged to perform well and enjoy their work.
Respect
We show consideration for and value one another. We acknowledge and respect the unique contribution of each team member, their ideas, work styles, backgrounds, experiences and talents. We strive to conduct our work in a manner respectful to all.
Integrity
We conduct ourselves to the highest professional standards. We work cooperatively and engage openly and honestly with all our stakeholders. We operate a transparent organisation and commit to working in partnership with those who share our values.
Courage
We bring courage to our work and we are willing to pioneer new ways forward. We lead boldly and act decisively for good. We enjoy freedom to change and pursue new possibilities for our future and the future of volunteering.
Volunteer Ireland Strategic Plan (2018 – 2022)
Download Volunteer Ireland’s strategic plan (2018-2022) (Adobe PDF)
Funding
Volunteer Ireland receives about half of our funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development. A full breakdown of Volunteer Ireland’s accounts can be viewed here.
We also receive funding from Pobal through the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO). The role of Outcomes and Impacts Manager is funded by Pobal to allow Volunteer Ireland to enhance its support of the volunteer infrastructure. The purpose of the role is to lead Volunteer Ireland and its affiliate Volunteer Centres and Volunteering Information Services in maintaining quality standards and embedding a culture of continuous quality improvement across the network. This includes outcome and impact development and measurement, research and capacity building across the volunteering infrastructure.
