Tallaght volunteers make a difference

TEN volunteers from Tallaght were among the hundreds who attended Foróige’s annual National Volunteer Conference in Sligo recently.

The ten joined the others who travelled from all over Ireland to attend the conference that included a keynote address by speaker John Davis, Professor of Childhood Inclusion at University of Edinburgh.

They also participated in workshops and exchanged ideas on best practice in youth work.

The results of a survey of 500 Foróige volunteers conducted earlier this year found that over 95 per cent feel they benefit from volunteering.

Sean Campbell, CEO of Foróige said: “The work of youth work volunteers is crucial to the well-being of young people. What this survey shows is that it is also of enormous benefit to the adult volunteers.

“Volunteers feed back to us all the time that helping young people, getting involved in their local community and meeting other volunteers is one of the most positive forces for good in their lives.

“That amazing feeling you get from giving of your time and energy to something so important really can’t be replicated in any other way. 

“Volunteering can reduce stress, help you find friends, teach new skills and even advance your career.

“Giving to others can also protect your mental health by keeping you mentally stimulated and providing a sense of purpose.

“We all need connection to others,” Mr Campbell added. “It’s fantastic that our volunteers gain so much while giving to the young people of their communities.

“We have an amazing army of 6000 volunteers in Foróige, but as the survey shows we need more.”

If you would like to make a difference visit www.foroige.ie/volunteer-enquiry