Search is on for Southsides best volunteers

THE search is on for the Southside’s unspoken heroes.

Volunteer Ireland has launched its eighth annual Volunteer Ireland Awards with a call for nominations.

The Volunteer Ireland Awards are open to volunteers of all ages working in any part of Ireland. There are 10 different award categories, along with the prestigious Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year award.

The Volunteer Ireland national awards celebrate volunteering in Ireland. The awards aim to recognise the thousands of people across Ireland who give their time to benefit others. 

Speaking of the awards,  Claire Carroll manager of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown’s Volunteer Centre, said: “Volunteers are one of Ireland’s most valuable resources. The most recent figures, for 2013, show that over one million people volunteered their time. These volunteers clocked up an incredible 230 million hours of volunteering which equates to a value of over €5 billion to the economy.

“Of the current volunteers registered with Volunteer Centres and I-VOL (Volunteer Ireland’s national database and smartphone app), almost 30 per cent say one of the reasons they volunteer is to help improve their skills and develop their employment prospects.

“The value of volunteering can never be overlooked but in current times where unemployment remains high and the job market has become increasingly competitive.

“If you’ve ever attended a sporting event, had fun at a festival or even adopted an animal, chances are you’ve experienced first hand the importance of volunteers. We’re calling on members of the public now to take this opportunity to say thank you to their local volunteers, and to nominate an outstanding volunteer they know.”

Anyone can nominate a volunteer in any of the 10 categories that include Arts, Culture and Media; Animals and Environment and Campaigning and Awareness Raising.

All shortlisted applicants are automatically eligible for the overall award. Nominations close at midnight on Friday, October 16 and can be made online at www.volunteer.ie

 The Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year award winner as well as the 10 category winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on Wednesday,  December  2 in City Hall in Dublin city centre.