It's official - Volunteering makes you happy!
98% in survey say volunteering makes them happier
People across the country were today rallied to get involved in Ireland’s first National Volunteering Week which takes place from May 14 – 20
Last year more than 10,000 volunteers participated in hundreds of charity and community projects across the country on National Day of Volunteering.
Following five successful National Day of Volunteering campaigns, this year the campaign is being expanded to seven days, making it easier for volunteers, organisations and companies to get involved.
Research carried out by Volunteer Ireland in advance of National Volunteering Week (NVW) has found that being involved in volunteering makes people happier. The research was carried out on more than 500 active volunteers across the country with 98% responding that ‘volunteering makes them a happier person’.
The research also found that the most common reasons for people to volunteer were to:
- Help people (65%)
- Contribute to the community (60%)
- Add experience to CV (37%)
- Keep active (33%)
- Occupy spare time (30%)
- Develop contacts (24%) and
- Find work through volunteering (24%).
National Volunteering Week is being co-ordinated nationally by Volunteer Ireland and delivered locally through the 22 local Volunteer Centres across the country. The flagship project for NVW 2012 is a National Inland Waterways Clean up.
Volunteer Ireland CEO Dr. Yvonne McKenna said that the survey was reflective of a growing particpiation in volunteering in Ireland and she highlighted evidence in the survey of differing reasons for volunteering among older and younger people.
“58% of people said they beileved there is a difference between why younger people (aged 14-50) and older people (50+) volunteer. Also among those whose employment had been negativly effected by the recession 68% said it made them more likely to volunteer.
“The responses do show a pattern that older people were most likely to volunter in order to stay active and socially engaged, while there was a greater emphasis among younger people on volunteering as a way of improving employment propects in the current recessionary climate.”
Dr. McKenna encouraged as many people as possible get involved in National Volunteering Week: “If it’s only for a minute, an hour, or a day – volunteering is a wonderful way to connect with your community, meet new people and make a real difference.”
To get involved in NVW 2012 go to www.volunteer.ie where you can:
1. Look up projects in your area and register to get involved.
2. Develop your own project and register it.
3. Participate in the flagship project – A National Inland Waterways Clean Up.
4. Check out the list of 30 ‘Random Acts of Volunteering’ examples to get some inspiration.