National Volunteering Week succeeds at Mayo centre

Mayo Volunteer Centre reports significant engagement from the public during National Volunteering Week.

Taking place from May 20-26, the focus of National Volunteering Week was to highlight the importance of volunteers and their contribution to their communities. As well as this, the week encourages both volunteers and community organisations needing volunteers to make contact. 

Mayo Volunteer Centre is the one-stop shop for volunteering in Mayo, providing services for individuals and organisations within the county.

Under the guiding hand of Manager Lesley Moore, the centre ran a series of promotional events including an open morning, a live radio broadcast and social media videos. 

“During the Open Morning, we welcomed people who wanted to find out more about what we do and see if volunteering might be for them. We’re looking forward to them taking up volunteer roles soon,” explained Ms Moore.

Mayo Volunteer Centre also runs outreach events in other towns around Mayo as they are active everywhere in the county. 

Social media is a good place to find out more about the types of volunteering opportunities available. From helping in a charity shop, working in a community garden and volunteering on a local committee, to simply spending time with older people or marshalling at community events, volunteers come from all age groups and backgrounds. 

Community or not-for-profit organisations can access groups of trained volunteers through Mayo Volunteer Centre. This might be for festivals or sporting events where marshals or registration volunteers are needed. The Community Volunteers Programme provides full training.

During National Volunteering Week, Mayo Volunteer Centre launched the Culture Club Programme at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life at Turlough House & Gardens. This is a programme of activities aiming to bring people together to explore the riches of Mayo’s Heritage, led by volunteers. It will include visits to popular destinations and hidden gems – the next one is to the Céide Fields. 

Ms Moore concluded: “We’re located right beside the Cathedral in Ballina, so we’re easy to find. People are welcome to drop in and chat about volunteering – there’s always someone in the Centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm. Otherwise, people can call us on 096 71444 any weekday from 10am-5pm to set up an appointment.”