My Department’s Community & Voluntary Supports programme provides a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €5.5m has been provided in 2022 under this programme to support 29 Volunteer Centres, a number of national organisations such as Volunteer Ireland and to support the implementation of the National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025.
Funding under this framework is provided to strengthen and support volunteering, to facilitate and foster volunteerism in Ireland and to build a support structure to develop volunteering locally. It enables Volunteer Centres in each county to play a central role in facilitating and supporting the development of volunteering in their areas.
Since the publication of the National Volunteering Strategy in December 2020 a number of actions have been completed or initiated, including Action 29, the upgrade of seven Volunteer Information Services to full Volunteer Centres. As of May 2021 every county now has a volunteer centre that is supported and funded by my Department.
Funding has also been provided to The Community Volunteer Programme. This programme is co-ordinated by Volunteer Ireland and the network of Volunteer Centres with support from the local authorities. The programme will enhance current volunteering capacity for forthcoming events and potential emergencies.