Background

Volunteering is an integral part of community activity within many of the member organisations of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies. Volunteering plays an important and vital role in strengthening communities, increasing social involvement, stimulating active citizenship and improving the quantity and quality of services provided by our member organisations, whilst supporting individuals to develop new skills and reduce the levels of social isolation and exclusion often experienced by people with intellectual disability within the community. Consequently, by stimulating volunteering efforts it has the potential to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, improve links with communities and promote the development of corporate involvement within intellectual disability services in Ireland. 

The National Federation Volunteering Sub-Committee expertly supported the planning and prioritisation of volunteering needs identified by member organisations, whilst informing the Board of Directors on priority issues, key challenges and recommendations in respect of volunteering at a local & national level. The first national survey on volunteering in intellectual disability services in Ireland was completed in 2008 please click here for more information. 

Terms of Reference

The Volunteering Sub-Committee had the following functions: 

• Advise the Board of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies on volunteering issues.
• Enhance the capacity of member organisations to promote valuable involvement of volunteers and volunteering within their organisation.
• Build on the awareness created by the Special Olympics, the European Year of People with Disabilities and the UN International Year of Volunteers of the value of volunteering to the wider community and to service users using the member organisations services, their substructures and branch networks.
• Work with member organisations to ensure best practice in their recruitment, selection, training, ongoing support, monitoring and celebration of their volunteers contributions.
• Undertake research into volunteering within member organisations.
• Develop formative link with external bodies e.g., Special Olympics and Volunteering Ireland to support the development volunteering infrastructure nationally.
• Share information on the success of volunteer involvement thus promoting the value and benefits of involving volunteers within member organisations.

Members of Sub-Committee

The members of the Sub-Committee were:
Anne Byrne, KARE (Chairperson)
Roisin Deery, MIDWAY Services
Rhoda Judge, Daughters of Charity Services
Linda Keane, Ability West
Jerry Mullane, COPE Foundation
Noreen McGarry, Western Care Association
Susan McGill, Brothers of Charity Services South-East
Gerry McLaughlin, Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary
Mary O’Connell, Brothers of Charity Services Limerick
Martina Rynne, Brothers of Charity Services Clare 
Kathleen Sherry, SOS Kilkenny Ltd.
Breda Casey, National Federation of Voluntary Bodies