In 2019 we committed to the development of a strategy that will guide the work of SDCVC over the next five years, assisting it to prioritise its work into the future.  This involved research and consultation – with our staff, our Board and our stakeholders including policy makers, funders, decision makers, sector leaders and not-for-profit organisations.

We are very pleased that the strategic planning and reflection process highlighted and confirmed our organisational strengths. These include, our leadership and willingness to be innovative and creative, our presence as a resource for all volunteering matters, our emphasis on quality placements, our collaborative working ethos and our openness to change.

We intend to build on these strengths, supporting and showcasing volunteering opportunities and using volunteering as a tool to promote community engagement, positive social interaction and active citizenship. We will contribute to growing a greater awareness and appreciation of volunteering as a valuable contributor to individual and societal well-being. We will continue to be innovative and look for new opportunities to support and promote volunteering, modelling good practice in the sector and ensuring that there is more known
about our work and its value. This work will be done in a collaborative way, working with not-for-profit organisations across the County.

Volunteering is changing, and the way people engage in volunteering is shifting with many looking for more flexible ways to volunteer. We will continue to work with the individual volunteer and with our not-for-profit partners to provide quality volunteering roles and meaningful two-way engagement ensuring that people are supported to have the best possible volunteering experience.

Our new Strategic Plan, with its four strategic objectives, provides us with a clear framework to guide and progress our work over the next five years at local, regional and national level. The measure of our success will be to make tangible the essence and spirit of volunteering. Our approach to the achievement of our objectives will be laid out in an annual implementation plan.

It is an exciting time, full of opportunity. We look forward to carrying on our work over the next five years. We are enthusiastic about working closely with existing and new not-for-profit organisations, promoting and supporting volunteering. We will continue our work to demonstrate that as well as being good for the individual, volunteering makes an important contribution to social inclusivity, and is crucial to increasing the social capital of our communities.

We appreciate all of the support we have received over the last 21 years of our work and are grateful to all those who have partnered and supported us in different ways – making us ‘What ‘and ‘Who’ we are. We particularly wish to thank those who have had faith in us, and, importantly, those who supported us financially including our main funders – South Dublin County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Our thanks go to all of those who contributed to the development of our strategy and in particular to Marie Carroll and Anna Lee who worked with us on its development. Thanks also to those who came to the consultation sessions and generously offered their feedback. Special thanks are due to our own volunteers – particularly our committed Board of Directors. Thank you also to the wonderful staff team – who continue to be professional, hard-working and dedicated to the work of SDCVC.

And thank you to Volunteers –
who just make the world a better place to be in.

Frank Kelly, Chairperson and Tricia Nolan, Manager.