Amy Woods
Head of Advocacy and Engagement, Volunteer Ireland
Volunteering is something we may not think about too often, but if you look around, you’ll see the impact of volunteers everywhere.
What they do often goes unseen, but volunteering makes up the social fabric of our communities. When people volunteer, they feel closer to their community and the people in it, and they take pride in their community.
Multifaceted benefits of volunteering
Volunteering doesn’t just have a big impact on communities; it can have lots of positive benefits for the people who volunteer. Making new friends, experiencing improved mental health and feeling an increased sense of belonging to their community are just some of the benefits experienced by volunteers. Not to mention, it can be great fun.
Looking to the new year,
why not consider becoming
a community volunteer?
Small actions make a big difference
Giving back doesn’t always have to mean a huge time commitment — small actions can make a big difference to a community. It can be as simple as checking in on a neighbour or maybe helping out at the school sports day. There are lots of ‘one-off’ ways to get involved in your community too, even over the festive period. For instance, you could deliver dinners to those in need on Christmas day or help out at a festive fun run. It will just take a few hours of your life, but it could make a big difference to someone else’s.
It’s easy to get involved
Looking to the new year, why not consider becoming a community volunteer? It’s a great chance for those who want to get involved in their community through events, festivals and occasional urgent support but don’t have much time. You can get involved as often or as little as you like, when it suits your schedule. You get to avail of training, be part of a team and even get a T-shirt. Visit communityvolunteers.ie to find out more.
If you’re looking for a more regular role or need some more support thinking about what you’d like to do, visit volunteer.ie to apply for roles or find your local Volunteer Centre. There is something for everyone.
