With over 6,000 people signed up to the national volunteering database at www.i-vol.ie to offer their help during COVID-19, Fingal Volunteer Centre  has urged local community and voluntary organisations seeing an increased demand for their services to contact them for support in recruiting volunteers. Funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, who are overseeing the community response to the needs of vulnerable people amidst COVID-19, Fingal Volunteer Centre is refocusing its priorities and resources to help organisations and volunteers respond effectively.

Fingal Volunteer Centre has always provided support to organisations when it comes to recruiting and managing volunteers. In response to the COVID-19 emergency, we are increasing and prioritising this support for organisations on the front line helping the most vulnerable members of our communities. We are encouraging any organisations that need support with volunteers to contact us. Whether they are registered with us already or not, we will be there to support any organisation that needs it.

Organisations that need support, information and advice or members of the public wishing to volunteer can find our details on www.volunteerfingal.ie  Those who want to offer their help can also sign up on www.i-vol.ie and register their interest in volunteering for COVID-19 specific roles. Alternatively you can contact the Centre on 018991921 info@volunteerfingal.ie

What support would benefit your service users? Could new volunteers help with:

1. Answering phones and providing information
2. Making friendly check-in calls, texts or emails
3. Replacing some of your ‘at risk’ volunteers temporarily
4. Delivering information leaflets
5. Providing practical support to people who are self-isolating; shopping, collecting prescriptions, walking the dog etc.
6. Remote IT Support; to help people get online and connect
7. Creating ‘virtual hangouts’ to socialise/discuss resilience for socially isolated groups e.g. Direct Provision
8. Creating content for online delivery

Tips for dealing with Volunteers

• Communicate with your volunteers, let them know what’s happening in your organisation
• Consider if any volunteer roles can be done remotely
• Volunteers who apply for roles and are not contacted / followed up with, are likely to feel disappointed, frustrated and undervalued.
• Let us know if you’d like to update or temporarily deactivate your current volunteer adverts
• If you don’t have available roles, you can refer people to our website for advice and information

Please send us your volunteer stories or organisation’s efforts in dealing with the crisis. You can use the hashtag #CovidVolunteersIrl. We’d love to share!

Volunteer Ireland the National Volunteer Development Agency have developed a suite of resources that may be useful for you. Scroll down to organisations and groups.