The 2021 Galway Volunteer Centre Annual Report, which was launched this week by Joe O’Brien T.D. Minister of State for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Rural and Community Development, shows that volunteering is as strong as ever in Galway City and County, with almost 1,000 new members of the public using the service to find volunteer work.
Speaking at the launch, Minister O Brien congratulated Galway Volunteer Centre on its work and impact in 2021 and in previous years. He said he would encourage anyone living in Galway to get involved in their local community, and Galway Volunteer Centre is ready and willing to help people find out how.
Donncha Foley, Development Manager with Galway Volunteer Centre also highlighted that while the numbers of volunteer roles were low in 2021 due to COVID restriction, the rate of new volunteer roles that charities advertise with the service are back at pre-COVID levels.
“The figures in the report highlight that volunteering is an option that is considered by many people in Galway, and that more and more non-profit organisations are coming back to our service to advertise volunteer roles and connect with people wanting to make a difference in Galway,” he said.
In addition to its regular service to members of the public, Galway Volunteer Centre also trained over 65 organisations organisational management skills such as fundraising, communications and planning. It also vetted almost 775 volunteers and employees for non-profit organisations to assist them with the protection of children and vulnerable adults. The Centre’s podcast series This is Community has also been a growing success with over 1000 downloads of episodes in 2021.
Since 2006, Galway Volunteer Centre has been helping members of the public to volunteer and helping community organisations to find volunteers, by providing a constantly updated list of volunteer roles on their website www.volunteergalway.ie
The Galway Volunteer Centre team meets with people to help them choose volunteer roles that match their interests and availability. ‘We are always amazed by the amount of people who come to us with a desire to do something to help others, and we provide a confidential service that gets people doing something that they like and benefits others at the same time’, said Donncha.
For more information on Galway Volunteer Centre, please contact the GVC office at 091 581727 or email [email protected]
