NEWS FROM THE VOLUNTEER CENTRE

Hi All

Welcome back to the latest edition of our volunteer newsletter. 

Summer is finally upon us and the country is starting to reopen. People can gradually begin to meet again and we can look forward to an exciting new phase in our lives.

Sporting events, shops and restaurants are resuming and so too are our local voluntary organisations.  Charity shops can sell their wears, environmental groups can get planting and youth groups can meet for activities.

It is with a sense of optimism that we can now look around our communities and see how we can get involved.

As a registered volunteer, you can sign into the website and view roles that might be of interest to you.

Clondalkin Handcraft & Horticultural Show 2021 is going on-line

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Clondalkin Handcraft & Horticultural Show (CHHS) are hosting this year’s show online. For this year they will be removing categories that they will not be able to judge. Entry forms will be available online on their Facebook, Instagram pages or by emailing on clondalkinshow@gmail.com. The group hope the public get involved in this year’s online show.

To enter they will require 2 photographs of the item, 1 photograph of the item on a plain white background and 1 of the entrant holding the item. Both photographs must be clear. The photograph of the item needs to be up close, so the judges can see the item clearly or they will not be able to judge the item.

Email your photographs to clondalkinshow@gmail.com. The Secretary will assign a Unique Show Number (USN) to each person entering the show. The judges will be sent only the photograph of the item. The photograph of the entrant holding the item is to prove they are the creator of the entered item, this photograph will never be seen by anyone except our Secretary and will be deleted after the show.

There will be no entry fee for this year’s show. Arrangements will be made collecting or delivery of prizes. Medals and rosettes can be posted to winners.

Entries will be accepted up until the 26th June 2021. Judging will take place for the following week and winner will be announced on 4th July 2021.

Best of luck to everyone entering the Clondalkin Handcraft & Horticultural On-line Show 2021.

 Positive impact of volunteering

As part of National Volunteering Week we highlighted the stories of people who have volunteered during the Covid 19 restrictions and they can be viewed on our website. Here is Rachael’s story

It’s no secret that since the pandemic began last year, the nation’s mental health has been heavily impacted. For over a year we’ve endured illness, loss, fear and isolation along with unemployment, social distancing, clean hands, face masks and restrictions. I felt like I needed to do something to help. I didn’t know if this would be feasible during lockdown, when everything seemed to be remote but then through volunteer Ireland I found Turn2me.

Turn2me is an online professional mental health support platform founded in 2009 with a vision to create a space for people to get professional support online. The platform offers online counselling, online support groups and online peer support to both adults and young people. Earlier this year I began volunteering with Turn2me as a Community Builder for the adult online peer support programme. My role involves giving online support to those who are struggling. This is done on a safe platform that the organisation has set up. The idea of a Community Builder is to act as a friend and a confidant. One evening a week I login into the platform and offer a listening ear and sometimes advice to anyone who comes on for a chat.

This role has opened my eyes to the daily struggles that people are facing, not just as a result of the pandemic, but in their everyday life. I think Turn2me is such an important platform because it’s both free and online. Often people struggle to seek support with their mental health because they’re afraid to go out and get it. Turn2me takes away one of the scariest parts of getting help and lets people do it from the comfort of their homes. It also allows me to volunteer from home which has been great during lockdown.

I’m delighted to be involved with this organisation. Even if I help just one person a week to feel better and to feel like they’re not alone I know I’ve made a difference. At times like these it’s important to come together and support each other and volunteering is a great way to do it!

ROLES THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU

About Us

SDCVC is registered as a company limited by guarantee with a Board of Directors serving the South Dublin County Council area (population 278,749). There are six staff members. SDCVC is part of the national network of 29 Volunteer Centres affiliated to Volunteer Ireland. Core funding comes from the Department of Rural and Community Development with additional funding from South Dublin County Council.

Our Mission is: to offer equal opportunities to all sections of the community to participate in meaningful voluntary activity.

All our staff are working remotely but are available to speak with you on various platforms.

We can be contacted directly and will get back to you promptly

Contact a member of staff today with your questions and/or queries or arrange a zoom session for one-to-one advice

Sharon – sharon@volunteersouthdublin.ie

Deirdre – deirdre@volunteersouthdublin.ie

Colette – colette@volunteersouthdublin.ie

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