Volunteer

Volunteering

Volunteering is the commitment of time and energy, and is an active expression of citizenship and community involvement. Many volunteers act as the backbone of a local club and/or initiative.

There are a number of training courses available to volunteers through the following organisations:

• Go for Life (GFL) – Age & Opportunity
• Health Service Executive (HSE)
  
• Irish Heart Foundation (IHF)
  
• Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs)
  
• National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
  
• Vocational Education Committees (VECs)
  
• Volunteer Development Agency (VDA) 
• Northern Ireland
  
• Volunteering Ireland (VI)

Some examples of training courses offered by these organisations include the following:

Volunteering

• Attracting and selecting volunteers (VDA) is an accredited course exploring the principles and procedures for the effective recruitment and selection of volunteers
• Effective recruitment and selection of volunteers (VI) is a one day course exploring the core principles of best practice for effective recruitment and selection of volunteers
  
• Certificate in community volunteering (VDA) is an accredited ASDAN course focusing on the general skills and knowledge that volunteers need to work effectively. It is locally delivered and is a great opportunity to network with other volunteers
• The relationship between volunteers and paid staff (VI) is a one day course aimed at those responsible for recruiting and managing volunteers and paid staff
  
• Volunteer support and supervision (VI) is a one day course aimed at those managing volunteers
  
• Developing your volunteer policy (VI) is a one day course exploring and developing volunteer policies
  
• Risk management in volunteer programmes (VI) is a one day course exploring the core principles of good practice in reducing risk in the area of volunteer involvement
  
• Communicating effectively with your volunteers (VI) is a practical one day workshop designed to look at strategies for effective communication with volunteers

Child Protection:

• Child protection awareness (LSPs & NGBs) is a basic four hour awareness course focusing on how clubs/organisations can heighten awareness in relation to good practice within a club/organisation environment
• Keeping safe (HSE & VDA)is an advanced child protection awareness course run over two days making people more aware of abuse issues and good practice in relation to reporting suspected or disclosed abuse; recruitment and management of staff and volunteers; codes of behaviour; and guidelines for trips

Miscellaneous

• First aid (LSPs) – a number of LSPs offer first aid courses to volunteers
  
• Physical activity leadership (GfL) is a series of eight workshops, organised locally by Local Sport Partnerships and the Health Service Executive to enable you to plan and lead health enhancing physical activity sessions for older people
  
• Slí na Sláinte walking leader training (IHF) is aimed at people wishing to promote walking in their local community or workplace
  
• Active leadership award (LSPs & VECs) is an award designed to provide trained, knowledgeable and enthusiastic community based physical activity leaders