Volunteer Ireland is delighted to announce that they recently secured funding from the EU as part of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 to develop a framework for a national quality standard for involving volunteers. This is in recognition of the key role best practice standards play in improving the quality of experience for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.

In order to ensure that the new framework is representative of the needs and views of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland, Volunteer Now has commenced research (via questionnaires and focus groups) to gather the views of both volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations on what should be included in the standards. If you are a volunteer or an organisation that involves volunteers in your work and would like to share your views please click on one of the links below to fill out the questionnaire.

To receive a copy of the questionnaire by post please contact June at   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (01) 636 9446. Details of our focus groups in South or North Leinster, Cork or the Midlands are outlined below.

To attend a focus group please contact Christine at   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Focus group participants will be reimbursed for their travel expenses.

If you are a volunteer
click http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Volunteer_Ireland_Volunteer_Survey to fill out our questionnaire

If you are a volunteer-involving organisation
click http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Volunteer_Ireland_Organisation_Survey to fill out our questionnaire

The national quality standard for involving volunteers will be developed by spring 2012 and will first be piloted by Focus Ireland. Volunteer Ireland envisions the final version of the quality standard will be available to all volunteer-involving organisations across the country in late 2012.

Focus Group details:

 South Leinster