It is important that volunteers have positive volunteering experiences and that volunteer involving organisations are supported to provide such positive local volunteering experiences. As such we are delighted to let you know that as part the schedule of events for National Volunteering Week 2017, Kerry Volunteer Centre has today launched an innovative Volunteer Management Training Program for Kerry to provide a local and free training platform for charities, community groups, volunteer involving organisations and volunteers to become skilled in Volunteer Management.

If you would like to find out how to get involved in Volunteering locally in your retirement do drop by the Kerry Volunteer Centre information stand at the Active Over 50 Plus Expo in Killarney on Sunday 7th at the Malton Hotel and Conference Centre in Killarney. Voluntary groups, sporting organisations and charities across Kerry are keen to involve people with life experience, resourcefulness, qualifications, abilities and energy. In fact, over 50’s along with retirees make up the lifeblood of dozens of Kerry organisations and voluntary community.

Volunteering doesn’t come much more worthwhile than helping someone through a life changing cancer diagnosis, and that is just what volunteers at Recovery Haven do every day. The centre was set up five years ago by nurse Marian Barnes who saw a need for cancer support for her clients, and over the last five years the centre welcomed over 950 clients, the families and carers. Support at Recovery Haven ranges from simply listening and advising to specialised counselling, therapies and activities designed to help clients on their cancer journey. And the benefits are clear.

Every year Kerry Volunteer Centre works with community groups on “Governance” related matters to grow their understanding of and develop their capacity to implement best practices in how they run their organsiations.

In 2017 we are delighted to announce our Fear-less Governance Seminars to support the committee members awareness and implementation of good governance practices. The seminars have been deliberately scheduled at evening and morning time to accommodate attendance and are made possible by collaboration with Irelands’ Governance Code Working Group.

The evening seminar will take place at 7.30pm to 9.30pm Wednesday 19th April in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney and the morning seminar on Thursday 20th will be from 11am to 1pm at the Manor West Hotel Tralee.