National Volunteer Week to be marked in Laois

THE Laois Volunteer Centre (LVC) will celebrate National Volunteer Week with workshops aimed at assisting not-for-profit groups across Laois to build skills that will assist them in delivering their work.

LVC aims to be a one stop shop for all volunteering needs in Laois. It is an independent organisation that works with individual volunteers and not-for-profit organisations to carry out a range of activities to improve communities and connects volunteers to organisations that require their assistance.

Volunteers are involved in virtually all aspects of life in Laois ranging from health, education, social services, youth, sports and recreation, culture, the arts and environmental.

The 2022 census revealed that 13.82% of the population volunteered with 28.4% of adults engaged in some form of volunteering.

Not-for-profit organisations in Laois could not sustain the valuable services they provide without the dedication and commitment of volunteers.

While National Volunteer Week takes place from 19 to 25 May with its theme ‘Building Community Together’, LVC in association with Laois Partnership and Laois Sports Partnership will host an evening of workshops and a networking opportunity on Wednesday 21 May at 7pm in the Laois Partnership premises along the Timahoe Road in Portlaoise.

Speakers on the night will be Claire Kelly ‘From Burnout to Boundaries’, Marian Barnard ‘Governance The Basics’ and Alison O’Kelly ‘Communicating with Confidence.’ Claire Kelly is an experienced life, career and executive coach with a background in the non-profit sector who experienced chronic stress and faced burnout. Trained in developmental trauma, positive intelligence, wellbeing and mindfulness, she brings a holistic, compassionate approach to helping people build resilience from the inside out.

Marian Barnard has been on the Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Organisations panel since 2019 developing and delivering training on governance for the not-for-profit sector. A training liaison officer for the board and volunteers of Portarlington Credit Union she designs, delivers and co-ordinates training and development on governance, the role of the board and strategy.

Alison O’Kelly is the founder of AOK Mentoring, a communications company that empowers individuals and businesses to communicate with clarity and confidence. She specialises in public speaking and has helped many to develop their voice, build their presence and deliver their message with purpose.

The speakers will assist those in attendance to build skills that will assist them in delivering their work.

As places are limited you are advised to reserve yours as soon as possible at a cost of €15 per person, which will be refunded on attendance, and can be done by logging onto https://volunteerlaois.ie/pay-online/ 

For more details on Laois Volunteer Centre contact its manager Caitriona Ryan on 087 2499 659 or by email caitriona@volunteerlaois.ie