Volunteering in Intellectual Disability Services in Ireland Supporting People to Live the Life of their own Choice in their own Community

Author(s): Volunteering Sub-Committee

Department: National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Intellectual Disability

Keywords: Volunteering, Active Citizenship, Community Involvement, Community Participation, Social Inclusion, Friendships, Choice

Reported: On www.fedvol.ie

(29 Jul 2008)

Abstract: In April 2005 the Board of the National Federation decided to establish a Volunteering Sub-Committee to plan and prioritise responses to the volunteering needs identified by member organisations and to inform the Board of Directors of the National Federation on priority issues, key challenges and recommendations in respect of volunteering at local and national level. One of the underlying aims of the National Federation Volunteering Sub-Committee was to establish and collate reliable data on volunteering within its member organisations and in 2006 the sub-committee guided the development of a National Federation volunteering survey. This was the first national study on volunteering to be conducted within intellectual disability services in Ireland.

The findings from the volunteering survey indicate that in thirty three National Federation member organisations, 3,000+ volunteers are contributing approximately 7 hours per month to the social inclusion of people who avail of intellectual disability services, making volunteering an integral part of community activity within these organisations. The contribution of volunteers is greatly valued and respected and their contribution is celebrated by member organisations. Volunteering activities support people to develop new skills and reduce the levels of social isolation and exclusion often experienced by people who avail of intellectual disability services within the community.

While respondents to the survey indicated that there were a number of challenges to be overcome in the provision of volunteering supports, they acknowledged that volunteers contribute to the active citizenship and social inclusion of people who avail of intellectual disability services, and to the organisation’s values and voluntary ethos, by:

  • Enhancing service delivery
  • Enhancing the quality of life of people who avail of intellectual disability services e.g. through developing friendships and maximising opportunities for personal growth
  • Enabling people who avail of intellectual disability services to be active citizens in their own communities, thereby achieving their full potential and living the life of their choice
  • Promoting social inclusion and community participation of people who avail of intellectual disability services


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