This newsletter contains information on:

• Urgent Call: Support the Irish Blood Transfusion Service
• Volunteer Expo 2026 (all areas)
• April focus on: Event/ short-term/ once-off volunteering roles
• Community Volunteers
• Other New Volunteering Opportunities
• Volunteer Centre Pop-up at a library near you
• Share your views on the Government Digital Wallet

Urgent Call: Support the Irish Blood Transfusion Service 

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is currently facing a critical shortage of several blood types, with only a few days’ supply remaining. Blood donations are vital for cancer patients and many others in hospitals who depend on lifesaving transfusions every day.

We are urging our volunteers and supporters to consider donating blood if they are eligible. You don’t have to be an Irish national to donate blood in Ireland. If you are living in Ireland and thinking about donating, your first step is simple: complete the quick eligibility questionnaire on the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) website- New Doner Eligibility Quiz

Once you’re eligible, you can book your appointment and get started.

Small action can make a life-saving difference.

I-VOL Role: Blood Donor with Irish Blood Transfusion Service – Giveblood.ie

Volunteer Expo 2026 (all areas) 

We are bringing the volunteer Expo to Dublin 15 this year, welcoming organisations and volunteers from all over Fingal and north Dublin.

Event details:
 Date: Saturday, 23rd May
 Time:12 to 3 pm
 Location: Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown (Directly by the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre)

The Expo will bring together organisations from across Fingal and North Dublin, all looking for volunteers. It is a great chance to meet organisations face-to-face, ask questions, and learn more about the many ways you can get involved.

Organisations attending include 92.5 Phoenix FM, ALONE Fingal, Balbriggan Cancer Support Group, Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living, Children4WorldChildren (C4WC), Community First Responder (CFR) groups, Foróige, Irish Cancer Society, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, TidyTowns, Special Olympics Ireland, Ukrainian Volunteers of Ireland, local parkrun groups, and many more.

Check out our website Expo page for more details: Volunteer Expo 2026

Getting there is easy—well connected by public transport, with plenty of free parking available in and around the hotel.

Make a day of it: enjoy some shopping or catch a movie, then drop by the expo. Bring your friends, family, and neighbours—the more, the merrier!

Volunteer Now and Help us spread the word about the Volunteer Expo! Share the expo details on your social media, in your office Slack, and across your community or WhatsApp groups. A quick message or post can help more people discover volunteering opportunities and get involved.

April focus on: Event/ short-term/ once-off volunteering roles

Once-off or event volunteering is a simple and flexible way to get involved in your community while supporting a wide range of cultural, social, and environmental events. It really is a great way to try volunteering without the long-term commitment.

What you might do:

• Welcome attendees and provide information on directions, schedules, and facilities
• Help manage entry and exit points
• Check tickets or registrations
• Support with basic crowd management
• Assist with event setup and pack-down
• Keep an eye on designated areas

Why get involved:

• Short, clearly defined time commitments that are easy to fit into your schedule
• Straightforward tasks with guidance and support provided by a volunteer manager
• Suitable for both first-time and experienced volunteers
• Opportunities across a wide variety of events—from arts and festivals to community and social impact initiatives

Event volunteering is a practical, enjoyable way to contribute, meet new people, and experience different types of events across your community. Check out some roles that are currently available on I-VOL:

• Event Volunteer for Rush Festival of Writing 25th April Rush with Rush Festival of Writing (25th April, Rush)
• Event Volunteer Toy Swap/Toy Librarian 25th April- Skerries with
  The Toy Library Fingal (25th April, Skerries)
• Music for Change: Event Volunteer (‘Make some noise’) – Friday 1st May with Focus Ireland: Challenging homelessness. Changing lives. (1st May, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and St Stephens Green Shopping Centre)
• Event Volunteers @Dublin Fleadh 8th – 10th May 2026 Churchtown, Dublin14 with Dublin Comhaltas (8th-10th May, Churchtown Dublin 14)
• Volunteers for Festival Art Workshop – Sunday 10th May, Dublin 8 with Culture Date with Dublin 8 (10th May, Dublin 8)
• Event Support Volunteer – Fingal Africa Day 30th May Dublin 15 with Children For World Children (30th May, Mulhuddart Dublin 15)
• Bealtaine Festival 2026 Volunteer: 28th – 30th May 2026 with Age & Opportunity (28th-30th May, Various locations in Dublin city Centre)
• Event volunteer – Bord Bia’s Bloom Festival 2026 with Birdwatch Ireland (28th May to 1st June Phoenix Park, Dublin)

We also have our own events programme – Community Volunteer Programme – where our team supports a variety of one-off events throughout the Fingal area. We are currently recruiting new volunteers!!

If you are interested in participating, you can register your interest in one of the roles listed below:

• Volunteering at Events & Festivals – Balbriggan/ Skerries/ Surrounding areas with Fingal Volunteer Centre (Balbriggan, Donabate, Skerries, Rush, Lusk)
• Volunteering at Events & Festivals – Malahide/ Howth/Baldoyle with Fingal Volunteer Centre (Malahide, Swords, Baldoyle, Howth)
• Volunteering at Events & Festivals – Dublin 15 with Fingal Volunteer Centre (Dublin 15)

More details are available in our Community Volunteers Section.

Community Volunteers 

Earlier this month, we were in Balbriggan where our community volunteers supported the Believe Balbriggan event. Our fantastic volunteers played a key role by helping with setup and pack-down, supporting the attending organisations and groups, assisting with the fundraiser, providing event information, and much more.

Next up is the Malahide Beach Clean-up on 25th April. Community Volunteers will be working alongside the local Lions Club to help clean the beach, support marine conservation, and make the area safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

There are three exciting Community Volunteers events taking place in May, each celebrating a different cause.

First, we will support the Baldoyle Biosphere Festival on 15th and 16th May, helping to promote environmental awareness throughout the event.

Next is the Volunteer Expo in Dublin 15 on 23rd May (see the Expo section for more details), where Community Volunteers will play a key role in promoting volunteering across Fingal.

Finally, on 24th May, Community Volunteers will be in Dublin 15 for the 200th Anniversary celebration of the Blanchardstown Brass Band, supporting a wonderful celebration of arts, heritage, and community spirit.

If you have any questions or experience any issues registering, don’t hesitate to contact Ruth on 087-4017511.

Not a community volunteer yet, sign up today: Community Volunteers Registration or get in touch at info@volunteerfingal.ie or 01 899 1921.

Other New Volunteering Opportunities

Here are some new opportunities that have been posted this month on I-VOL:

• Arts & Crafts Activities Volunteer Rush with Mowlam Nursing Home Rush (Rush)
• Volunteer Companion/ Driver Rush with Mowlam Nursing Home Rush (Rush)
• Volunteer Eco Shop Assistant Laytown with Sonairte – Fingal (Laytown)
• Volunteer Cafe Assistant Laytown with Sonairte – Fingal (Laytown)
• WordPress Website Developer Volunteer (Mostly Remote) with Sonairte – Fingal (Laytown and remote)
• Organic Garden Volunteer Laytown with Sonairte – Fingal (Laytown)
• Volunteer Gardener/ Caretaker Swords with Down Syndrome Centre- Swords (Swords)
• Director of the board of management Dublin 15 with Parslickstown House Management CLG (Dublin 15)
• Office & Admin Support Volunteer – (Pre-Games Support) Dublin 15 with Special Olympics Ireland (Dublin 15)
• Advocacy & Community Engagement Volunteer (Remote) with OCD Ireland (Remote)
• Volunteer driver to transport food Dublin 7 with Novas (Dublin 7)

Fingal Volunteer Centre Pop-up at a library near you 

Looking for something different?

Meet us at a library near you across Fingal to chat about your interests and receive guidance on suitable volunteer roles. Our Volunteer Centre Pop-ups provide a great opportunity to meet a member of our team in person, ask questions about volunteering, and receive personalised advice to help shape and support your volunteering journey.

No appointment is needed—just drop in and take the first step towards finding your ideal volunteer role!

Check out our website for the schedule of Pop-Ups happening this month and find one near you.

Share your views on the Government Digital Wallet 

The Irish Government has launched a public consultation on its proposed Government Digital Wallet—and this is your opportunity to help shape how it works for everyone.

The Digital Wallet aims to give people a simple and secure way to store and use official documents—like a birth certificate, driving licence, or European Health Insurance Card—directly from their phone.

This consultation is open to everyone, and participation is straightforward. Whether you’re enthusiastic about digital services or have concerns, your input is valuable. Feedback gathered during this phase will directly influence both the technical development and future legislation underpinning the wallet.

There will also be an opt-in testing phase, giving people the chance to try early versions and provide hands-on feedback before the wallet is rolled out nationally.

*This Consultation is organised by the Irish Government. Fingal Volunteer Centre has no input in it. This is for information only.