What is Volunteering?
Volunteering is defined as the commitment of time and energy, for the benefit of society, local communities, individuals outside the immediate family, the environment or other causes. Voluntary activities are undertaken of a person’s own free will, without payment (except for the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses). Volunteering can be both formal and informal. Formal volunteering is when someone gives their time to a specific organisation while informal volunteering can be as simple as doing the shopping for an elderly neighbour.
Who are volunteers?
Volunteers are people from all walks of life, all ages and all stages. What they have in common is the desire to make a difference in their community—and in their own life—by giving their time. While many people volunteer to give something back, most volunteers find that they experience a number of benefits too. Volunteering has been proven to have benefits to both physical and mental health. To learn more, read Volunteer Ireland’s report into The Impact of Volunteering on the Health and Well-being of the Volunteer. See our FAQ for more information.
How Longford Volunteer Centre can help you Volunteer
At the Longford Volunteer Centre we provide a range of services to volunteers where you can:
- Find out about volunteering opportunities,
- Get information on the rights of volunteers,
- Talk to someone about the how, why, and where of volunteering,
- Get ongoing support and advice if you want it,
- Share your expertise with an organisation that needs it, and
- Learn how to acquire skills and build your CV through voluntary experience.
