Sligo Volunteer Centre

This year saw the first year of the newly established service of the Sligo Volunteer Centre. This followed the development and pilot phase initiated under an EU Peace II Task Force Measure by the Office of Community and Enterprise, in Sligo County Council.

Sligo Volunteer Centre became a Registered Company in March 2006. There were many activities throughout the year to create links with the existing community and voluntary sectors in the County as well as creating awareness amongst potential volunteers. In May 2006 Sligo Volunteer Centre provided training to 14 organisations in volunteer management. In June 2006 the Volunteer Centre held a number of outreach sessions around the county to promote volunteering in areas outside of Sligo city. In August 2006, it held an information stand in Tesco Arcade to heighten its profile.

SPECIAL EVENTS IN 2006

Volunteering Fair with An Gaisce

In October 2006 Sligo Volunteer Centre assisted The Presidents Award (An Gaisce) and The Sligo Sports Partnership with a volunteering fair aimed at secondary school students participating in the Presidents Award. The young participants had an opportunity to meet with a variety of voluntary organisations and sports clubs who were looking for people to help them with their activities. A number of successful links were made through this event and it is hoped this will be an annual event.

Funding Seminar with Sligo County Community Forum

In October, Sligo Volunteer Centre co-hosted a Funding Seminar with Sligo County Community Forum. The aim of the seminar was to inform community and voluntary groups of the types of funding available to them, as well as how to get started on their idea, hints about filling out application forms and tips on fundraising. There was a large attendance of representatives from approximately 75 community groups around the County.

The Community Foundation of Ireland assists Sligo Volunteer Centre to deliver Family Befriending Project During the period September 2006 to December 2006, Sligo Volunteer Centre headed up an exciting Family Volunteering Project which saw 10 local families befriend families of the Iranian Kurdish Programme refugees who arrived in Sligo in September and made it their home. The Sligo based families have been matched under a “Befriending Programme” with Iranian Kurdish families who have members of their family of similar ages. This project was funded by the Community Foundation of Ireland and also by the Reception and Integration Agency. A number of activities were involved in the programme such as induction for the Sligo based families, a Welcome Day, an Arts and Crafts Day and an indoor picnic.

Family volunteering is a rewarding way for families to spend time together and contribute to their community. It is hoped to run further family volunteering projects in the future.

2006 Facts and Figures

• We registered 109 volunteers
• We registered 10 family units to volunteer on our Family Befriending Project.
• We registered vacancies from 29 Community and Voluntary Groups which totalled 99 vacancies.