6 nominations for volunteers, organisations and volunteer managers in Dublin City!
Dublin City Volunteer Centre sends a huge congratulations to all our local nominees for the Volunteer Ireland Awards.
Nominees for the national awards come from across 15 counties, contributing to important issues from climate action to animal welfare. The Volunteer Ireland Awards showcase the key role played by volunteers in supporting our communities.
Take a look at the vital contributions our 6 local nominees have made over the past year:
Campaigning and Activism Category
Seamus Connolly, Chairperson, Autism Equality Dublin Bay
After establishing Autism Equality Dublin Bay, Seamus sought to connect parents of children on the autism spectrum across Dublin 2 and 4. His aim was to promote inclusion for children with autism, and in just 18 months, he has successfully supported the establishment of three additional needs classes within local mainstream schools. Seamus has established after school activities for children with autism in the area, and continuously liaises with schools and departments to ensure the needs of children with autism are met.
Seamus’ commitment to Autism Equality Dublin Bay sees him take part in multiple fundraiser and awareness-raising campaigns. Members of the organization commend him on both his tireless dedication as well as fostering a renewed sense of community among parents engaged with the group.
COVID-19 Category
Raymond Carr, Volunteer, Aviva Mass Vaccination Centre
Over a period of seven months, Raymond Carr Aviva Vaccination Centre gave more than 480 hours of his time volunteering at the Aviva Mass Vaccination Centre, playing a major role in shaping their volunteer programme.
His innovation ensured that the busy demands of this ever-changing environment were well-met. Fellow volunteers joked that he must have a bed stashed away somewhere, noting that it was a rare day that Raymond wasn’t on site!
Raymond took part in education and training initiatives at the vaccination centre and was consistently happy to share his knowledge and expertise with volunteers. He described his time at the Aviva as a ‘transformative experience.’
Robbie Stack, Volunteer Manager, Aviva Mass Vaccination Centre
At the beginning of the pandemic, Robbie Stack started volunteering as a COVID-19 Book Delivery Driver, answering the Community Call initiative to support this volunteer programme. Robbie helped deliver books and audio materials to those cocooning or medically vulnerable.
Robbie subsequently joined the volunteer team at the Aviva Vaccination Centre, where he volunteered with and later managed over 280 volunteers. From the outset, Robbie worked to develop efficient, well organised volunteer rotas that met the needs of the Centre while ensuring volunteers were informed and equipped.
Robbie prioritised the well-being and experience of volunteers and ensured that he checked in with each person during their shift and afforded them opportunities to volunteer in each area of the Centre. Testament to his innovation and passion was his ability to organise for every volunteer to attend in fancy dress when local Junior Infants arrived at the centre to receive their childhood immunisations. Robbie recognised that the small things really are the big things, and ensured that no matter who attended the Centre, they were greeted by an informed and enthusiastic volunteer.
Large Groups
Volunteer Mentors - INSPIRE Mentoring programme
INSPIRE Mentoring is a unique online mentoring programme for young people aged 18-25. INSPIRE Mentoring matches the mentee with an experienced professional volunteer from a similar background. Through their shared experiences, these mentors are uniquely positioned to act as a powerful role model, encouraging mentees to achieve their goals.
The programme has been operational since September 2020 and currently engages over 100 active volunteers. INSPIRE aims to utilise the power of skilled mentoring to reduce the impact of poverty and educational disadvantage affording young people the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and
confidence to change their future.
Becoming a volunteer mentor requires significant dedication. Through an extensive boarding process, interview stage and training programme, the mentors demonstrate remarkable commitment to the organisation and the young people supported by INSPIRE.
The timing of INSPIRE’s launch during the pandemic required volunteers to not just mentor but too also take into account the impact of COVID-19 on the young people they engaged with. Against this challenging backdrop our volunteer mentors truly stepped up to the mark and collectively showed a huge amount of creativity, passion and initiative in their volunteering.
FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres)
FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) is an Irish human rights organisation, which exists to promote equal access to justice. FLAC ‘s Phone Legal Information and Advice Volunteers contribute in two ways. The Information Line Volunteers operate the telephone information and referral line, providing basic legal information and assistance to the public. If the query is more complex the service user is given an appointment at one of our Phone Advice Clinics. At the Phone Legal Advice Clinics, their Legal Advice Volunteers offer free and confidential legal advice sessions via phone to service users in need.
COVID-19 posed a significant challenge for the 550 FLAC volunteers. While the volunteer team typically operated from the organisation’s clinics, adherence to Government guidelines in March 2020 saw each clinic closed. Immediately, many volunteers expressed an interest in providing services remotely. Pivoting to this changed offering required administrative and organizational aptitude. The volunteer advisors were willing to adapt and change to adjust to an ever-changing COVID-19 situation, recognising that despite pandemic restrictions, demand for their expertise continued.
Small Groups
A Lending Hand
A Lending Hand is a voluntary group who provide an outreach service to people experiencing homelessness in Dublin. The small group of volunteers spend time every week delivering tents, food and essentials to those who need it most. Prior to the pandemic, the group handed out soup every evening from Monday to Friday, setting up in the heart of the city. When restrictions were put in place, they adapted their services and volunteers now make and deliver meals and sandwiches to people who are homeless throughout the city.
As Christmas approaches, the group will prepare their outreach programme to schools throughout Ireland, asking students to fill back packs with essentials for the people supported by A Lending Hand. Through their selfless work and ongoing engagement, the volunteers provide a vital support service for people who urgently require their help.