Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre

Transcription

1 Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre Annual Report 2017

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3 Letter from our Chairperson 2017 was once again a busy and fulfilling year for the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre, in which we continued to develop our mission and embed the goals set out in our Strategic Plan saw the Centre successfully relocate from its base in Southside Partnership offices in Blackrock to Eblana Avenue in the heart of Dun Laoghaire. I would like to pay tribute to the staff of the Partnership for their support and assistance over many years. In addition to the active involvement and engagement of our existing volunteers and registered organisations in a wide range of activities, the year marked a significant escalation in membership with 752 newly registered volunteers, 271 repeat callers to the Centre and 27 new organisations who were further welcomed during the year. The Centre continues to cultivate linkages and networks in serving the voluntary interests of local organisations. In addition, a milestone for the Centre was the collaborative development of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Corps in partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathfown County Council. This project will bring new volunteering opportunities to the county and we look forward to further cementing this strategic partnership during As part of our continued commitment to good governance, the Board of the Centre signed up to the Governance Code and are currently on the journey. This work coupled with the work being undertaken to achieve the Quality Standard from the Volunteer Network, will further cement our commitment to best practice. The achievements of the Volunteer Centre are due in no small way to the high level of engagement of our dedicated and motivated team, diligently driven by Manager, Claire Carroll, Development Officer, Clare Cryan and Part time office administrator Margaret Kennedy. They are ably assisted by a committed team of volunteers, Colin Meagher, Máire-Anne Doyle and Briege George who are the supporting pillars of the Centre. It is important that we acknowledge the stellar work of our former Chairperson, Niall Sexton, who stepped down in 2017 after 10 years of involvement. His passion and enthusiasm, fuelled by a strong commitment to ensuring outcomes, were inspirational. I especially want to thank the members of the Board for their ongoing commitment, untiring and relentless involvement, and ongoing personal and professional support. Together with the Board and team, I look forward to continuing to work in the implementation of our Strategic Plan and to shape our services so they are best placed to respond to the needs of communities within the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown borough. Patricia Byrne Chairperson

4 Letter from our Manager 2017 was an exciting year for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre as we achieved one of our biggest strategic objectives, to establish a Centre for Volunteering in the County. This new office space, facilitates the Centres commitment to further grow and develop to meet local needs. We would like to thank Southside Partnership for hosting us for so many years and for their on-going support of the Centres work and development. We are delighted that 2017, also saw a new initiative piloted by the Volunteer Centre and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, namely the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Corps. The Volunteer Corps is an events volunteering group which offers a new, flexible and inclusive way to volunteer in the County. We are excited to provide new opportunities to volunteer in DLR and are looking forward to increasing the visibility and accessibility of volunteering to all in the area was also a year spent renewing our commitment to the continuous quality improvement of our service. I would like to thank all members of our team and board for all the work undertaken to meet the Quality Standards Framework of the Network of Volunteer Centres and Volunteer Ireland. We look forward to being awarded the Quality Standard in This year, we also celebrated 10 years of operation and I want to say a special thank you to all the volunteers over the years, who supported the growth and development of the Centre. Particular thanks is also due to our core funder the Department of Rural and Community Development and to the network of Volunteer Centres and Volunteer Ireland for their ongoing support. 2017, also saw the development of the team in the Volunteer Centre and we were delighted to welcome Margaret Kennedy, as our part time Administrative Officer. With new beginnings, there are also endings, this year our long standing volunteer Máire-Anne Doyle finished volunteering with us. For her endless good humour, speed, accuracy, warmth and words of wisdom and for bringing joy to all volunteers who crossed her path, thank you, we miss you!!! A special thank you to all who currently volunteer with us, including Briege George and Colin Meagher and all our board of directors. For your endless commitment to our work, your ideas and time, thank you! As always, a huge thank you our team in the Centre, for giving so generously of yourselves and your insights, energy and expertise, we couldn't do it without you! Finally, this year we continued to be inspired by the work of local groups and their volunteers. To all the people in our community we were fortunate enough to cross our paths in 2017, thank you for continuing to inspire and motivate us to promote and build volunteering in Dún Laoghare Rathdown. We're excited to work together in 2018! Claire Carroll Manager

5 Our Activities With Volunteers We supported Who contributed more than 1,023 From 20,346 Volunteers 62 Countries Hours

6 October 2017 also saw the launch of the DLR Volunteer Corps a new, flexible and inclusive way to volunteer in DLR Members signed up in the first three months of the DLR Volunteer Corps Hours of Volunteering at the first three events Twitter impressions Volunteer ed re Corps Survey Results from Our Volunteers Corps Members 100% Said they would volunteer again 100% Said it was a great way to meet new people and volunteer at a time that suits them! 93% Enjoyed the event they volunteered at 100% Felt supported by the Volunteer Centre All Volunteers Corps members who volunteer at an event are asked to give their feedback

7 DLR Volunteer Corps first three events.. DLR Community 5K Mountains to Sea Challenge PPN Collaborate for Change What our Volunteer Corps Members say... "I loved my first event" "It is a good way for me to build my confidence on speaking English, meet new people as well. I really enjoy this process." "I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one" "The volunteers all worked together in a friendly manner." What our Event Organisers say.. "Please pass on my appreciation to the DLR Volunteer Corps for their sterling efforts on Saturday. We received great feedback from the participants. And thank you for your time effort in making sure the volunteers knew their roles - they were a credit to you and the Volunteer Network." "All volunteers were of huge assistance with the large number of people present on the day. The Organising Committee and I are extremely grateful for this support to help local people get active."

8 Our Activities With VIOs 327 Active VIOs Who posted 188 New Volunteer Opportunities DLRVC referred 1586 Volunteers to VIOs DLRVC also partnered with the other Dublin Volunteer Centres in 2017 to deliver the Dublin Volunteer Management Seminar. Dublin's only volunteer management seminar, now in its sixth year, focused on bringing together practitioners from the field of volunteering to provide a space for discussion and sharing knowledge and insights on Volunteer Leadership. This year our Development Officer, sat on the working group to project manage the event and our Manager spoke at the event. Over 50 VIOs from Dublin, attended.

9 Our Activities With Garda Vetting Affiliates DLRVC has 46 Registered Affiliates We Supported 9 New Affiliates DLRVC processed 824 Vetting Invitations This year, we ran 4 training sessions on Garda Vetting for local groups What our groups said about the training: "Well organised, well delivered and felt confident if I have any further questions, i can contact the trainer" "Informative and relevant - great to have handouts to remember points covered and speedy follow up with extra relevant documents after training" 85% Said our training materials were excellent 100% Said our content and the delivery of the training was excellent

10 DLRVC was also involved in... DLRCC Age Friendly Services Directory We liaised with the Social Inclusion Unit in DLRCC to promote Volunteering in the Age Friendly Directory of Services for 2017 Healthy Ireland 2017 DLR Consultation Understanding the key role of volunteering in a Healthy Ireland. DLRVC helped facilitate the first Healthy Ireland consultation arranged in the County by the Local Community Development Committee DLR Celebration of Volunteerism and DLR Volunteer Corps Launch In collaboration with DLRCC, DLRVC launched its Volunteer Corps project at the Cathaoirleach's celebration of Volunteering Event in DLR Sports Partnership - Sports Forum This year DLRVC attended the DLR Sports Partnerships's Sports Forum speaking to attendees on the Value and Impact of Volunteering. Urbact - European Collaboration for Change Project As a member of the DLR Urbact Local Action Group, DLRVC facilitated an event for Volunteer Managers that focused on Well-being and how we can collaborate with Volunteers. UCD in the Community As part of our collaboration with UCD in the Community, DLRVC delivered a lecture, as part of a newly launched module on Community, Volunteering and Leadership.

11 Our Impact What our volunteers and VIOs have to say about the impact of our service and why it matters to them and the wider community 98% Would recommend us to a friend Survey Results from Our Registered Volunteers 66% Said their mental health and wellbeing had increased 83% 73% Said they felt they were making a useful contribution to the community Felt their confidence in their own abilities increased All Volunteers who registered with the centre in the current and previous year were asked to complete our survey Data from survey carried out in 2018, as of Survey Results from Our VIOs 97% 88% Of our Registered VIOs would recommend us to others 44% Said without our support they would have to reduce their organisations activities Said it was very important to have the support of the Volunteer Centre 76% Said that because of the volunteers referred and support received their programme delivered on its objecties All Active Registered VIOs with our Centre were asked to complete our survey. Data from survey carried out in 2017

12 Our Impact Volunteer Stories captured in 2017 Gabrielle told us how she felt isolated on returning to Ireland and how she often struggled to get up in the morning. She told us how she now volunteers in so many places that she has to get up two hours earlier, just to fit it all in! "Volunteering has given me such confidence, it has changed me completely." She also told us how she was just back from a weeks holiday with a new friend she'd met through volunteering. Keith told us how he didn't know how many groups were helping in his community and how many volunteers were involved, until he got involved. Volunteering with a local Community First Responder Group, Keith is keen to get experience, that will help him be a better doctor, one day. Asked what he'd tell other people thinking of volunteering - "Just do it!" "I didn't realise how much community was out there"

13 Our Impact Volunteer Stories captured in 2017 Adel told us how he had first come to Ireland some years ago and it was now his families home. He spoke of his gratitude to Ireland and his desire to give something back. An avid teacher, Adel started volunteering teaching languages and is keen to help others arriving to Ireland to settle in. Niamh told us how she didn't expect to get so much from volunteering herself. She told us how the impact of her volunteering, was not just positive for the person she befriended but for her too.

14 Our Funders & Supporters Thank you to the organisations who funded and supported our work this year: - Department of Rural and Community Development - Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council - Southside Partnership DLR - Volunteer Ireland, the Network of Volunteer Centres & Information Services Other Supporters Thank you also to our local Citizens Information Centre, who facilitated our outreach clinics: - Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Citizens Information Centre Company Details Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer is a Company Limited by Guarantee with a Board of Directors Niall Sexton (Resigned 20th June 2017) Patricia Byrne - Chairperson Shane McArdle - Vice Chairperson Cormac Shaw - Treasurer Thomas Doyle - Secretary Mary O'Donoghue Anne Cantrell Niall O'Connell Financial Details Charity Number: Company Registration Number: Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre Eblana House 11 Eblana Avenue Dún Laoghaire County Dublin info@volunteerdlr.ie

15 Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre Eblana House 11 Eblana Avenue Dún Laoghaire Co. Dublin