Kilkenny Volunteer Centre welcomes the publication of Ireland’s first National Volunteering Strategy, launched by Minister Joe O’Brien.  The five year strategy lays out a comprehensive plan to foster and support volunteering well into the future.

The strategy is the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration between Volunteer Ireland, Volunteer Centres and Government. Ireland is known across the globe for our generosity in giving time and lending a hand, currently sitting at number one in Europe and number ten in the world for volunteering time.

The purpose of this Strategy is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution of volunteers to Irish society. The Strategy also provides an opportunity for the Government to acknowledge how important volunteering is to the well-being of the nation and to steer the delivery of an agreed and ambitious vision.

Volunteers make a vital contribution to Irish society, developing communities as vibrant, inclusive and sustainable places where people want to live. The economic, cultural and social benefits of volunteering permeate through an incredibly diverse range of activities which include providing supports to sport, health, education and the socially marginalised.

Therefore, as we look to the future we must ensure that we put the best possible supports and infrastructure in place so that volunteers and volunteer bodies continue to prosper and that the volunteering needs of present and future generations will be met. The publication of the Department of Rural and Community Development’s (the Department) five-year Strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland – Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities 2019 – 2024 addresses broader issues that affect the Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS).

To full strategy can be found here: