Welcome to our latest online newsletter.

  South Dublin County Volunteer Centre is delighted to announce that we have been successful in sourcing funding for a new training officer. This person will be available individually to groups to give them advice, information and formal training on all aspects of volunteer management. We also hope to put in place some larger pieces of more formalised training. Keep an eye out in the papers for more details on this exciting and challenging position.

 We have recently produced new bookmarks advertising volunteering in Tallaght. If you would like some for your school, Church, Hall, Library etc..., please do not hesitate to contact us.

 December 5th 2003 - International Volunteers Day will see a celebration of Citizenship taking place in Tallaght organised by the active citizenship working group of Tallaght Partnership or which SDCVC is an active member. Patricia McKenna MEP will be the main speaker at the day. If you are interested in your group taking part or if you want more information about the day - please contact Sheilanne Monaghan, Tallaght Partnership @ 4664280

  If you aren't able to take part in these celebrations, why don't you organise something yourself to celebrate the day. Send a card to your volunteers, have a party, carry out a volunteering promotion event? The list is endless. If you want some more suggestions for celebrations, why don't you contact us here at SDCVC. Let's celebrate volunteers everywhere on their special day.

  At present, we are working on developing our strategic plan for 2004 - 2006. If you have any suggestions about where you would like to see the bureau going or what specific volunteering projects and issues we should be addressing, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - she would be delighted to meet and talk to you.

UPSers in the Community

As part of the UPS commitment to the local community, emplolyees of the company participated in volunteer activities earlier in the year. To date, 14 employees have given up several hours of their free time to assist with the Fettercairn Youth Horse Project (FYHP).

The FYHP is situated on a seven acre area of disused land in Fettercairn, Tallaght and provides stables and grazing for up to 20 horses from the area.

The centre was officially opened in the summer of 1995. The adults involved in this project want to "help channel youths interest and respect for horses into a constructive community activity which would provide them with opportunities to develop personal, social and vocational skills". Some of the young people are so dedicated that they come in at 7:30am to feed the horses before they go to school.

The FYHP need extra help to re-paint their stables and to so dome general clean-up duties. The UPS employees found it very enjoyable and commented: "It's a worthwhile project as it gives young local people an interest. The seemed very dedicated to their ponies? the work we did was very hardgoing" "We both enjoyed working there very much. It was a lot of fun painting the walls, although it was a tough job at times. It was nice to watch all involved. UPSers and the children as well as Rebecca (FYHP co-ordinator), seem to give all they have to keep the ball rolling. We are looking forward to helping out again".

Markus Roth, (German CSR) and Thomas Janak (German Leader).

Employees of UPS getting ready for work

You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.

It is better to shoot for the moon and miss, than shoot for nothing and hit it.

There is only one thing worse than training your volunteers and having them leave - and that's not training them, and having them stay.

It is in giving oneself that one receives."
- Francis of Assisi

Below are some of our newest volunteering opportunities to give you a flavour of some of the types of voluntary work that are available through South Dublin County Volunteer Centre. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone us at 462 8558

Tallaght Homeless Advice Unit (Ref 135/03) - URGENT APPEAL
The Tallaght Homeless Advice Unit provides an information, advice and advocacy service for homeless people in the Dublin 24 area. They are beginning a fundraising drive to raise some funds for this worthwhile cause. They are looking for volunteers who would be willing to help them in Church gate collections and Street Collections during the week of 2nd - 9th of November 2003.

If you are available at any time during that week and would be interested in helping out this worthwhile local cause please contact:

Ms. Cathy Doyle
Tallaght Homeless Advice Unit
St. Mary's Priory
Tallaght
Dublin 24
Phone 01 414 8669
Phone 01 4048100 (ask for homeless unit)
E - mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tallaght Intercultural Action (Ref 133/03)
Tallaght Intercultural Action is a support agency for refugees & asylum seekers.

This organisation is currently looking for volunteers to inform the public & clients of their righs and help with various needs of clients. For more information on this opportunity, contact the Volunteer Bureau.

St. John of God - Menni Services (Ref 145/03)
St. John of God Menni Services provide training programmes for young adults with intellectual & physical disabilities.

They are looking for befrienders who will work with special needs individuals including sitting and chatting, watching tv, befriending a trainee, helping them with communication skills etc?

Whitechurch Youth Club (Ref 141/03)
Whitechurch Youth Club aims to help guide & facilitate groups of 12-15yr olds through a programme of activities in order to help them in their development.

They are looking for individuals who would be interested in being youth leaders with their various programmes. Nights for various activities differ - you can choose the night you wish to be involved.

Ever Thought of Young People and Volunteering?

A Practical Checklist for organisations involving young people as volunteers

Target more information about volunteering opportunities at young people to help them make better choices.

Use positive images of volunteering (and less stereotyping) to attract younger people to your organisation.

Make volunteer opportunities attractive and appealing to young people. Variety and the fun element are both important.

Create clear, progressive and varying volunteer roles for young people. Flexibility of volunteering (time and commitment) is important to reflect the diverse range of things which may be happening in a young person's life.

Make sure volunteering provides benefits to young people in terms of skills, new challenges, work experience and so on.

Ensure that young people feel valued and respected by others they may be volunteer with or for.

Make your volunteers feel empowered and consult and involve them in the development of their volunteering.

Provide a friendly and relaxed environment for young people to work in, with support from an identified person when they need it.

Ensure recognition of what young volunteers do, either by providing accreditation in the form of a qualification or simply providing a reference or record of achievement, stating skills and experience gained while they were volunteering.

Make sure young volunteers are never out - of - pocket.

Follow good practice in management of volunteers in all instances e.g. volunteer policy, recruitment and selection, induction, training, support and supervision.

Be creative and consider if there are tasks within the organisation which individual young volunteers or a group would be able to undertake and run as their own project, with back-up support

Reprinted with permission of
The Volunteer Development Agency

South Dublin County Volunteer Centre
512 Main Street
Tallaght
Dublin 24
Tel: +353 1 4628558
Fax: +353 1 4628384
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web page: www.volunteersouthdublin.ie

Manager: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Placement Officer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Youth Officer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.