Mayo Volunteer Centre launch new documentary series
The series was officially launched by Minister Dara Calleary and was attended by local stakeholders and dignitaries.
The Mayo Volunteer Centre has officially launched a new six-part short documentary series celebrating the contribution of volunteers and community groups across Mayo. The event took place in Ballina Arts Centre on Friday, May 22, to coincide with National Volunteering Week.
The series was officially launched by Minister Dara Calleary and was attended by local stakeholders and dignitaries.
Launching the films, the Ballina-based TD acknowledged the immense contribution of volunteers around the county to our communities, and asked attendees to ‘stand back and imagine’ our communities without volunteering.
Minister Calleary described volunteering as a privilege and shared his own desire to resume volunteering activities when he moves on from this chapter of his life.
Filmed by Thady Kavanagh and featuring six projects from around Mayo, each of the mini-documentaries shares the story of how volunteers worked to support volunteer-involving organisations to deliver events and initiatives, supported in turn by Mayo Volunteer Centre. Featured were the Foróige Mentoring Project (Big Brother/ Big Sister), Mayo Autism Camp, Mayo Super Knitters, Mayo Community Volunteers at St Coleman’s, Achill, The Global Kitchen at Ballina Fringe Festival, and The Friends of St Joseph’s Hospital Ballina, a collaboration between the hospital and Ballina Community Cleanup Group.
Since filming took place, the Friends of St Joseph’s Hospital group has lost two of their dedicated volunteers, and an emotional tribute was paid to the late Sarah Ellis and Paddy O’Hora of Ballina Community Cleanup Group for their commitment, enthusiasm, and contribution to volunteering.
Other speakers at the event included Stuart Garland, Learning and Capacity Building Manager with Volunteer Ireland, and Annette Maughan, CEO of Moy Valley Resources IRD, of which Mayo Volunteer Centre is a key project. Several volunteers from each of the films were in attendance. Manager of Mayo Volunteer Centre, Kim Merrifield, emphasised the strong value of volunteering in maintaining connected and vibrant communities in Mayo.
All six films are available now to view on www.volunteermayo.ie and on associated social media channels. Funding for the series was granted under the National Volunteer Strategy (Actions For Delivery) fund from the Department of Social Protection and the Minister for Rural and Community Development.