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
- Community Volunteers – We manage the national Community Volunteers programme of volunteers for once off opportunities like festivals and events, who are also prepared to volunteer in the event of a crisis.
- Volunteer Centres – There are 29 Volunteer Centres 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 volunteering thrives.
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 recognise and acknowledge the dignity, worth and potential of people and their ideas, experiences and talents.
Integrity
We place honesty and fairness at the centre of our activities and uphold the highest professional standards.
Ambition
We challenge ourselves, bring innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do, to achieve the best outcomes for ourselves and all our stakeholders.
Collaboration
We listen, seek and maintain partnerships, and actively participate in the exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Volunteer Ireland Strategic Plan (2023 – 2027)
Download Volunteer Ireland’s strategic plan (2023-2027)
Funding
Volunteer Ireland receives 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 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.
