Community Volunteers is a pilot programme that gives organisations a chance to engage enthusiastic, trained volunteers in local events and in times of more urgent need.

The programme will see Volunteer Centres recruit, interview, and train a group of local volunteers in Urgent Community Support and Event Volunteering best practice.

Organisations can request their local Community Volunteers to support at events or initiatives. Organisations can also request support from Community Volunteers at shorter notice when urgent needs arise in the community.

Community Volunteers have put their hand up, to be there to support their community.

Community Volunteers support events as well as more urgent needs as they arise.

Community Volunteers are trained in volunteering best practice.

How to get involved?

The pilot project is initially running in the following counties: Cavan, Carlow, Cork, Donegal, Dublin City, Dublin County, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo, Westmeath and Wicklow

These counties are currently engaging volunteers and seeking projects and initiatives to involve Community Volunteers in.

If your organisation is in another county, you can still register your interest and your Volunteer Centre will be in touch to discuss how Community Volunteers could support you when the programme is up and running in your county.

Want to learn more?

If you would like to learn more about the Community Volunteers programme, please register your interest below and your local Volunteer Centre will be in touch.

Have a Community Volunteers role in mind?

If you have a community event or an urgent need that you think Community Volunteers could support, we’d love to hear from you. Request Community Volunteers Support by telling us about your event or need. Your Volunteer Centre will be in touch to discuss how Community Volunteers may be able to support you.

Why engage the Community Volunteers?

Community Volunteers makes it easier for organisations to engage volunteers to support local initiatives, and at shorter notice in times of urgent need.

Community Volunteers take on short term and episodic roles. Their training will give them an understanding of the importance of communication, compassion, confidentiality, manging risks and minding their own wellbeing when volunteering.

The programme will be led by local need and will complement, rather than replace, existing services.

What service will my Volunteer Centre provide?

The programme allows organisations to engage volunteers through their local Volunteer Centre that have been recruited, interviewed, skill & interest assessed, ID checked and trained in Urgent Community Support and Event Volunteering best practice.

Some Volunteer Centres will then refer their Community Volunteers on to be managed by the organisation that they are supporting. Organisations will not be charged for this Enhanced Referral service.

The Volunteer Centres currently offering an Enhanced Referral service are; Carlow, Longford, Mayo, Westmeath and Wexford.

Other Volunteer Centres will directly manage their Community Volunteers at events and when providing Urgent Community Support. In this Full VIO service volunteer management fees may apply.

The Volunteer Centres currently offering a Full VIO service are; Cork, Donegal, Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Kildare, Leitrim, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin and Wicklow.