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 e-mail 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 e-mail 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

Volunteer Ireland has arrived!

Volunteer Centres Ireland and Volunteering Ireland have now merged to create Volunteer Ireland, a single national volunteering organisation for Ireland. The services and supports for volunteering previously offered by two organisations will now be delivered by one: from the Ireland InVOLved Awards to the National Day of Volunteering.

The creation of Volunteer Ireland is great news for volunteering in Ireland. Combining the skills, strengths and talents of VCI and VI into a single national volunteering organisation will mean we can build on the considerable achievements of our two organisations to date and increase the services and supports for volunteering in Ireland. As a bigger, better and unified organisation for volunteering, Volunteer Ireland will be far better placed to respond to the needs of volunteering. 2011 is European Year of Volunteering and Volunteer Ireland will be a fantastic legacy of it.

The focus of Volunteer Ireland will be to create an enabling environment for volunteering, to develop an ethos of volunteerism across all sectors of society and to be an independent and legitimate voice for volunteering. Working with our local Volunteer Centres, volunteer-involving organisations and volunteers, Volunteer Ireland will be a powerful advocate for volunteering in Ireland.

As of from last week, all staff and volunteers in Volunteer Centres Ireland and Volunteering Ireland transferred to Volunteer Ireland and we are all looking forward to working together to create a single, great volunteering organisation for Ireland. For the moment, of course, it’s ‘business as usual’. However, we look forward to developing our new organisation over the coming months and to sharing our progress with you.

Business Impact Map

Today Business in the Community Ireland is delighted to launch the "Business Impact Map", a web based interactive map of Ireland, powered by Microsoft Bing Maps technologies, which showcases the impact 30 member companies of Business in the Community Ireland have on society. The map is the first of it's kind in Ireland and will depict thousands of Business & Community Connections right across the country representing multi-million euro support to the sector annually. To access the map click on the image below or visithttp://maps.bitc.ie/BusinessImpactMap.aspx

Minister Carey welcomes new measures to protect volunteers and ‘Good Samaritans”

Pat Carey T.D., Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs welcomed measures introduced in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010 by the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern T.D.

These new provisions will provide protection from liability for persons described as ‘good samaritans’, who act in good faith, without expectation of payment or reward and in a way that does not constitute gross negligence, to provide assistance, advice or care during an accident or emergency.  Protection is also being provided from liability for persons involved in voluntary work for charitable or other purposes for the benefit of society, including sports, recreation and rescue.

Speaking on 31.8.10, Minister Carey said:

“I welcome these new provisions which will help protect volunteers and good Samaritans from incurring liability while engaged in charitable works or assisting others in good faith. It is essential that those who give of their time to help others in a selfless and voluntary manner do not fear legal repercussions. 

In the current climate, it is vital that we encourage active citizenship and volunteering and protect those that partake in such activities.  In addition to these provisions, I recently commenced further sections of the Charities Act 2009, which will help to safeguard the position of those charity trustees who fulfil their duties with integrity, but who still may be liable for court proceedings”.

Minister Carey concluded: “Promoting volunteering and active citizenship is a policy area which needs to be addressed and strengthened.  I believe these provisions will support this aim and will contribute to the Government’s objective of a society which is inclusive, energised and which continues to place a focus on high levels of community engagement.”

The content of this press release does not purport to be a legal interpretation of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010.

Editor’s NoteThe Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010 provides for amendments to provisions across the range of civil and regulatory law.