Reducing the barriers to
volunteering

Longford Volunteer Centre representatives Terri Doherty and Angela Killion met with Robert Troy TD during the recent Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres’ Annual TD Engagement Event.

Buswell’s Hotel, Dublin played host to the event on Tuesday, September 24 where Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres were highlighting the need for the Government to reduce barriers to volunteering for unemployed people.

Longford Volunteer Centre has received feedback from volunteers that applications to volunteer under the Voluntary Work Option can be refused.

Policy on the level and type of volunteering activity deemed acceptable under the Voluntary Work Option can differ greatly between different social welfare offices.

Commenting on the issue Terri Doherty, Co-ordinator Longford Volunteer Centre said, “So far this year over 150 volunteers have registered with Longford Volunteer Centre. One of the most popular reasons for volunteering among newly registered volunteers has been to ‘gain or improve skills’. Now more than ever it is crucial that local volunteers have access to volunteering opportunities that can help to improve their employability and take a step towards paid employment.”