In advance of the annual kick-off of National Volunteering Week, #NVW2016, in Kerry on Monday Kerry Volunteer Centre in conjunction with Moira Murell, Chief Executive Officer of Kerry County Council have launched the Consider Volunteering Campaign to support people in Kerry who are experiencing unemployment to think differently about volunteering on the pathway to employment.
Speaking at the launch of the Consider Volunteering Campaign Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council said the Council was delighted to support National Volunteering week and that the Council acknowledges the immense contribution of volunteers to the social fabric of the county.
‘The Consider Volunteering Campaign speaks directly to unemployed people in Kerry, it highlights the significant personal benefits that they can gain from volunteering locally and tackles the real and perceived barriers to volunteering that exists’ explained the Volunteer Centre Manager, Geraldine Sheehan. In a time where local job opportunities are scarce Volunteering can be an ideal way for many to keep their skill sets sharp, retain and build self-confidence, keep active, sustain emotional wellbeing, whilst making a valuable contribution to the community.
At its core, the Consider Volunteering Campaign explains how and why unemployed people currently volunteer, the types of volunteering available and reassures job seekers as to the zero impact of volunteering on their Jobseekers Allowance. The Consider Volunteering Campaign’s positive volunteering messages have been embedded into all monthly career planning courses across Kerry and into local employment service job sheets. It is being advocated by Department of Social Welfare Deciding Officers across the county and in the Consider Volunteering information posers and pamphlets.
‘The benefits of volunteering whilst unemployed are significant.In a recent survey of 800 Volunteers conducted by Volunteer Centres and Volunteer Ireland 65% responded that volunteering improved their employability, 54% said their ability to advance in their current workplace increased, 79% said their confidence increased and 76% felt that their interpersonal skills improved. The survey also highlighted the health benefits of volunteering as 63% said that their mental health had improved, 69% that their range of friendships increased and 77% said that their sense of belonging to their local community increased’ explained Geraldine.
The Consider Volunteering Campaign is at the heart of National Volunteering Week 2016 in Kerry, the national theme is thinking differently about volunteering. The week kicks off at the annual Valuing Volunteering Coffee Morning at 11am on Monday at Tralee Bay Wetlands whereby an open invitation has been issued for people to attend to find out about and join in the celebration of volunteering over coffee and cake! The morning is sponsored by the Wetlands and its Lakeside Café.
National Volunteering Week in Kerry is coordinated by Kerry Volunteer Centre. During National Volunteering Week and for every week thereafter staff at Kerry Volunteer Centre will be meeting people experiencing unemployment the length and breadth of the county from Kenmare to Tralee, Caherciveen to Ballybunion, Dingle to Killarney to support them think differently about Volunteering locally as part of its recently launched Consider Volunteering Campaign. The Consider Volunteering campaign, actively supported by the Department of Social Protection, Local Employment Services and job clubs in Kerry, is one of the Volunteer Centre key actions committed to and contained within the Local Economic and Community Pan 2015-2021 to be formally launched next month by Kerry County Council.
To find details of your local volunteering opportunities logon to www.volunteerkerry.ie and to speak to a member of the team call 066 7117966.
