Semantic Coherence: Volunteer Ireland – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[H5]
VOLUNTEER IRELAND

[H1] Connecting communities through volunteering

[H2] Get involved!

If you want to get involved in your local community, check out all the ways you can volunteer and make a difference!

Get Started

[H3] Supporting your organisation

[IMG: Engaging volunteers]

[H4] Engaging volunteers

Whether you want to recruit volunteers or you need some support with your volunteer programme, we can help.

[IMG: Support and resources]

[H4] Support and resources

We know there’s lots to think about when engaging volunteers so check out our wealth of resources designed to support you.

[IMG: Training & Events]

[H4] Training and Events

Whether you’re looking for basic volunteer management training or more bespoke support, we’ve got you covered.

[IMG: Recognise your volunteers]

[H4] Celebrate your volunteers

Learn about National Volunteering Week and see how you can get involved and celebrate volunteering!

[H3] National Volunteering Week 2026

Our favourite week of the year! Learn more about how you can get involved in celebrating Ireland's volunteers this May.

About NVW

[H3] International Volunteer Year 2026

International Volunteer Year 2026 (IVY 2026) is a global celebration of volunteering. As national lead, Volunteer Ireland are developing exciting plans.

IVY 2026

[H3] The Volunteer Charter

Communicate clearly about expectations and make an agreement between volunteers and the organisation that involves them.

Learn more

[H3] Institute of Volunteer Leadership

The IVL is a new hub offering both peer support and external guidance for volunteer managers and other leaders of volunteers.

Learn more

[H3] 2025 in numbers

[IMG: Volunteers]

[H3] 22521

[H6] Volunteers

[IMG: Volunteers Opportunities]

[H3] 11195

[H6] Organisations

[IMG: hours donated last year]

[H3] 422908

[H6] Hours volunteered last year

[IMG: Community Projects Nationwide]

[H3] 29

[H6] Volunteer Centres supported

[H3] Newsletter

Sign up for our quarterly newsletter and stay up to date with all things volunteering.

[H6] By signing to our newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

[H1] Become a Volunteer

[H3] Become a Volunteer

Thinking of volunteering? Check out all the ways you can volunteer below!

[IMG: Become a Volunteer]

[IMG: Register online & apply to volunteer today]

[H4] Register online and apply to volunteer today

You can head over to i-vol.ie to register online and search for volunteer roles near you right now.

Get Started

[IMG: Contact your local centre for Support]

[H4] Contact your local Volunteer Centre

Not sure what you’d like to do? Get in touch with your local Volunteer Centre for advice.

Contact Your Local VC

[H3] Volunteering with an organisation

There are lots of different ways to volunteer! One of the most popular ways is with a local group or organisation. There are lots of organisations doing fantastic work in our communities looking for the support of volunteers. Depending on your interests and what’s available, you could do anything from volunteering with a youth club to befriending an older person. Check out all of the current opportunities near you now.
View Opportunities

[H4]
Other ways to get involved

Depending on your interests there are lots of other ways to get involved like volunteering at an event or festival; volunteering from the comfort of your own home; or volunteering through your workplace as an employee volunteer.

[IMG: Event Volunteers / Reserves]

[H5] Community Volunteers

Discover Opportunities

[IMG: Volunteer From Home]

[H5] Volunteer From Home

Discover Opportunities

[IMG: Employee volunteering]

[H5] Employee volunteering

Discover Opportunities

[H4]
Volunteer Stories

[IMG: Gaisce at home with Orla Leahy]

Volunteer from home

[H5]

Gaisce at home with Orla Leahy

[H6] Orla Leahy is a student from Cork who is currently going for her Gaisce Gold...

[IMG: Volunteering at Rio 2016]

Volunteer Stories

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Volunteering at Rio 2016

[H6] Mary O'Leary was one of a handful of Irish volunteers at last month's Rio Olympics....

[IMG: Mary Rice – Volunteer with ISPCC Childline]

Volunteer Stories

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Mary Rice – Volunteer with ISPCC Childline

[H6] Mary Rice volunteers with ISPCC Childline in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. This National Volunteering Week she...

More Stories

[H3] Newsletter

Sign up for our quarterly newsletter and stay up to date with all things volunteering.

[H6] By signing to our newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

[H1] Your local Volunteer Centre

[H3] Your local Volunteer Centre

If you'd like to volunteer, your local Volunteer Centre is here to support you

[IMG: Your local Volunteer Centre]

[H2] What is a Volunteer Centre
Volunteer Centres are at the hearts of communities across Ireland working to support, promote and celebrate volunteering. They help people who want to volunteer find suitable roles; and help organisations in need of volunteers to find suitable people to fill those roles. They provide support and advice to both volunteers and organisations; deliver training; process Garda vetting and run a range of other projects dedicated to facilitating and enhancing volunteering locally. The majority of services offered by your local Volunteer Centre are completely free!

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Find a Volunteer Centre

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Find the contact details for your local Volunteer Centre below

[H3] What your volunteer centre does

[H5] For Volunteers

[H5] For Organisations

[H4] Help find a volunteer role
Your local Volunteer Centre will discuss what you would like to do, what skills you have to share and how much time you have to give. They will do their best to find a volunteer role that best suits your needs. Remember the right role might not be there straight away but the Volunteer Centre is always on hand for support.

[H4] Offer support and advice
If you’re not sure if volunteering is right for you or what you should do, your local Volunteer Centre will give you all the information you need and offer any support and advice to help you make the best decision for you.

[H4] Showcase volunteering and share volunteer stories
There are so many wonderful things happening in our communities and so many great stories to be told. Your local Volunteer Centre works hard to spread the word of volunteering through social media, traditional media and outreach to show the impact volunteers have on our communities every day and inspire new people to volunteer.

[H4] Help find suitable volunteers for your organisation
You can register with your local Volunteer Centre and advertise volunteer roles with them locally on www.i-vol.ie. Your Volunteer Centre will also showcase the roles on social media. They can refer suitable volunteers or have volunteers apply directly to you – whichever suits your organisation best.

[H4] Offer training and advice
Your local Volunteer Centre offers training in volunteer engagement along with a wealth of resources on best practice in volunteer management. They are also on hand to offer support and advice should you have any queries about engaging volunteers.

[H4] Process Garda vetting
If you’re engaging volunteers that require Garda vetting, your local Volunteer Centre can process this vetting for you. Although Garda vetting has often been seen as a barrier to volunteering, the current process is extremely smooth and turnaround times are much shorter now.

[H4] Events for you

More Events

[H3] Newsletter

Sign up for our quarterly newsletter and stay up to date with all things volunteering.

[H6] By signing to our newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

[H1] About

[H3] About

We believe that volunteering is a force for good, and central to creating and sustaining an inclusive society. Our purpose is to value, support and strengthen volunteering.

[IMG: About]

[H2] About Us
Volunteer Ireland is the national organisation that promotes, supports and advocates for volunteering in Ireland. We work with a range of stakeholders to make volunteering accessible, inclusive and of high quality. We build capacity in organisations and companies to create meaningful volunteering experiences. We celebrate volunteering and communicate its impact to Government and the wider public. We advocate for volunteering so that its value is recognised. We support the network of Volunteer Centres and work closely with them to ensure volunteering thrives at local and national level.
Our work is guided by our strategic plan 2023-2027, where we have identified five strategic goals:
Advocate for volunteering
Support the Volunteer Centres
Develop meaningful volunteering
Raise the profile of volunteering
Grow and sustain an excellent organisation, consistent with our values

[IMG: Sub Heading]

[H4] Our Vision

Our vision is an Ireland where volunteering thrives.

[H3]
Our Values

Our values guide us and our work as an organisation.

[IMG: For Organization]

[H5] Integrity

We place honesty and fairness at the centre of our activities and uphold the highest professional standards.

[IMG: For Organization]

[H5] Inclusion

We recognise and acknowledge the dignity, worth and potential of people and their ideas, experiences and talents.

[IMG: For Organization]

[H5] Ambition

We challenge ourselves, bring innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do, to achieve the best outcomes for ourselves and all our stakeholders.

[IMG: For Organization]

[H5] Collaboration

We listen, seek and maintain partnerships, and actively participate in the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

[H3] International Affiliations

Volunteer Ireland is a member of the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV), the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) and Points of Light.
We work with volunteer infrastructure organisations and volunteer centres across Europe to research and advance volunteering and these projects are part funded by the European Union Erasmus Plus Programme.

[H4] Related Page

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Our Team

[H6] Meet the Volunteer Ireland team

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Governance

[H6] Volunteer Ireland holds itself to the highest standards. Our work…

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Our Board

[H6] Volunteer Ireland is run by a voluntary board of trustees…

[IMG: Zsé Varga]

[H3] Zsé Varga

[H5]
Development and Capacity Building Manager

Zsé joined Volunteer Ireland in November 2019 as Volunteer Centre Development Manager before stepping into the role of Volunteering Development Programme Manager in 2023. She played a key part in the delivery of actions 1, 13 and 53 of the National Volunteering Strategy, focusing on fostering a more flexible, diverse, and inclusive volunteering landscape.
In 2025, Zsé became the Development and Capacity Building Manager, where she continues to drive innovation in volunteering. Building on her previous work, she is dedicated to shaping a new phase of volunteering—one that prioritises flexibility, diversity, and meaningful engagement. She also leads capacity building initiatives to support and empower leaders of volunteers, working to adapt and revitalise volunteer programmes to meet the demands of modern life.
Zsé brings extensive experience in facilitating diverse networks and in managing volunteers. She has a background in volunteer management training and consultancy, which she practised in Ireland, in her native Hungary, and many other European countries. She also has practical skills in governance which she developed through working with Volunteer Centres and internally in Volunteer Ireland.
Zsé is passionate about volunteering and sustainable volunteer management. She is also a proud Blood Bikes East volunteer.

[IMG: Rasa Visockiene]

[H3] Rasa Visockiene

Most of Rasa Visockiene’s professional experience is related to volunteer activities, starting from volunteering herself and finishing with mentoring, tutoring, and coordinating different volunteer projects.
She has 20 years of experience working with international volunteer service activities.
Since 2016, when she moved to live and work in Ireland, she has been working as a volunteer coordinator for retail with the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul and, from 2022, as a volunteer recruitment and engagement officer at Oxfam Ireland.
Since 2002, she has been working in the non-governmental and charity sectors in cooperation with local authorities or national and international programs focusing on inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and cross-sectoral cooperation. Since 2024, she has been working in the governmental sector as a clerk at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Ireland.
Rasa has a Master’s Degree in International Communication.
“I do believe that volunteering is an enriching experience where all involved parties get a positive impact in their own development and growth.”
Date of appointment: 26th November 2024