Centre manager Josephine Stroker said:
“With increased division in our society, Leitrim Community Volunteers are a shining example of the difference people make when they come together to support their community. Whether they are from Leitrim or Liberia, the Community Volunteers all have one thing in common – they want to give back to help others.”
Over 10 nationalities and volunteers of all abilities and backgrounds are involved in volunteering in Co Leitrim.
Kieron Anthony Smith, the centre’s community volunteer coordinator, said the nationally funded Community Volunteers Programme has been “a game changer”.
“It provides an excellent way for people to get involved in their community and make a difference at a local level, especially those who may be new to County Leitrim. It also provides an invaluable resource to local organisations and the local authority,” he said.
Josephine agrees: “The programme allowed us to increase access to volunteering by offering roles with little time commitment and in many cases with little English required.”
Kasia Religa, who is originally from Poland ,registered with Leitrim Volunteer Centre in 2022 and offered to provide art classes to members of the Ukrainian community to help them to settle and as a way of healing. She has been a major influence in connecting people.
She said: “I made many friends with whom we did some beautiful projects together. The Community Volunteers gives you the possibility of making friends through volunteering and enables you to do something that is beneficial for all.”
There are volunteer centres in every county
- Leitrim Volunteer Centre is one of 29 such centres nationally. They provide a placement service, matching individuals who would like to volunteer, with non-profit organisations. Both the volunteers and non-profit organisations are offered advice and support including helpful information, volunteer management training and Garda vetting administration. Volunteer Centres are funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and are affiliated with Volunteer Ireland.
- Volunteer Ireland is the national volunteer development organisation and a support body for the volunteer centres in each county.
- The Community Volunteers Programme was launched in 2021 as a pilot programme. It matches volunteers with local events and festivals and more urgent responses as the need arises. It allows people to volunteer as often or as little as they like. It also allows local organisations to engage volunteers for one-off events or to help respond to an urgent need. The programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and coordinated by Volunteer Ireland and the network of volunteer centres, with support from local authorities.
