Minister O’Brien launches first National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025

• Whole-of-government framework to support the voluntary sector
• New Volunteer Reserve to be established to respond quickly to local community needs
• Saturday 5th December is International Volunteering Day

Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, on 5th December launched the first National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025.

The purpose of the strategy is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution volunteers make to Irish society. Volunteering benefits large sectors of society in the areas of education, arts, heritage, education, health, sport and the socially marginalised. Research has also shown that the act of volunteering has a positive impact on the health and well-being of the volunteer.

The strategy was produced in collaboration with the community and voluntary and business sectors and will provide a vision and road map for both volunteers and those organisations who benefit from the work of volunteers.

The National Volunteering Strategy can be downloaded from gov.ie

Launching the strategy, Minister O’Brien said:

“Ireland has always had a long tradition of volunteering. The contribution of volunteering to our society has never been so much to the fore than during the response to Covid-19 over the last number of months.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Volunteer Ireland and South Dublin Volunteer Centre. Both of these organisations, and all Volunteer Centres, have played a central role in the volunteering response to Covid-19. In particular, I would like to congratulate South Dublin Volunteer Centre for their award in the Covid-19 Group Category under Volunteer Ireland’s 2020 Awards.”

Acknowledging that today is International Volunteering Day, the Minister continued:

“I am also delighted to launch this strategy on International Volunteering Day, as the strategy includes specific actions to support ethical and skills-based international volunteering.”

The strategy contains 56 actions to be implemented over the next five years, with Government working in partnership with volunteers, volunteering bodies, the community and voluntary sector and the business and corporate community to deliver its objectives.

The Minister also announced, as a first step in implementing the strategy, that he has approved funding for a new volunteer reserve to be established to respond quickly to local community needs. Further details of this initiative will be announced in January 2021.

In concluding, the Minister stated

“The publication of this National Volunteering Strategy is part of our mission to ‘Build Stronger and Safer Communities’ and is a Programme for Government objective achieved’.

“We want the strategy to help bring new people to volunteering. We want to develop an environment and set of support structures that facilitates the highest standards so that all involved can benefit to the greatest degree. I cannot emphasise enough that through the approval and publication of this strategy, government is recognising the value of volunteering and how important it is to our communities.”