Positive response to volunteer course

As European Year of the Volunteer came to a close, representatives from Raidió Corca Baiscinn, Clare Adult Basic Education Service (CABES), Disabled People of Clare (DPOC), Mid-West Simon Community, Clare Museum, Cahercalla Community Hospital and Ennis Street Festival completed the National Volunteer Management Training Course delivered by Clare Volunteer Centre.
Sharon Meaney, development coordinator for the Clare Volunteer Centre, was delighted at the positive engagement by the community and voluntary sector in attending the recent course.
“Organisations have a level of responsibility and need to acknowledge that the volunteering experience they create will shape not only the effectiveness of the voluntary sector but the enthusiasm and attitude with which the Irish people will approach volunteering. The groups that participated in the recent course are embracing the challenge in providing a positive experience for the volunteers they currently involve and the new volunteers they hope to attract.”
She added, “Volunteering reminds us of what is good in our society, it is up to all of us to protect our volunteers and to take the opportunity to come together as groups in our community to raise awareness of the valuable contribution that volunteers bring and to ensure that we as a society value the impact volunteers are making in all of our lives.”
The Clare Volunteer Centre has been involved in a number of projects to celebrate the European Year of the Volunteer. Earlier in 2011, the Volunteer Discount Card was launched, with over 160 businesses countywide coming together to acknowledge volunteers by offering discounts and special offers for EYV 2011. During the year, over 2,000 cards were distributed through local community and voluntary groups.
For further information on volunteering or for not-for-profit organisations who are interested in participating in the Volunteer Management Training Programme, contact Sharon on 065 68 66 800.