More than 3,500 people have registered with Galway Volunteer Centre seeking volunteer work since the service was set up in 2006.
The facility, which is based at Mill Street, estimates that people finding such work through it have contributed almost 70,000 hours of their time to their local community.
The centre is urging people to consider helping out in their locality. The benefits include making new friends, developing new skills and personal wellbeing.
City mayor Declan McDonnell says volunteers benefit from the experience and their work enhances others’ quality of life.
“Part of the attraction of living in Galway city is the vitality that volunteers bring to the arts, social services, sports and many other activities that would not happen otherwise. Volunteers should feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction about their commitment to their community.
The centre’s new ‘I DO IT’ campaign, which promotes volunteering, highlights the fact that volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds representing all sections of society. People volunteer for different reasons, including being interested in a particular issue, wanting to develop new skills, and meet new people.
“Volunteering can often be invisible to the general public though they may be benefiting from it throughout the year, for example, through being able to access services or participate in festivals,” says Linda Keane, chairperson of Galway Volunteer Centre.
“People from all walks of life enjoy volunteering and we would love if they helped to encourage others who haven’t had the opportunity yet. We usually have around 100 vacancies available at any one time and we meet with as many people as possible to identify suitable opportunities for them. You do not have to make an immediate commitment when you visit our centre and the service is free.”
People interested in volunteering can visit GVC office at 17/18 Mill Street or register online at www.volunteergalway.ie or telephone (091 ) 539930 or email [email protected]
