The Fingal Volunteer Centre is delighted to report that the Fingal Virtual Volunteer Expo on the 12th of May via Zoom was a great success with a great turnout from all involved including 5 affiliate community development organisations and numerous volunteers.
The Virtual Volunteer Expo was hosted by Fingal Volunteer Centres volunteer coordinator Megan McGrath and co-hosted by their Office Administrator Patrick Taylor.
Continue reading below for the report on the Fingal Virtual Volunteer Expo or scroll down to the bottom of the article to watch the video recording of the event.
Virtual Volunteer Expo Report
Balbriggan Tidy Towns the first to kick start the event. Terry O’Reilly introduced the attendees to the great work done by them which includes keeping Balbriggan litter-free, initiating the national pollinator plan, gardening and murals. The Balbriggan Tidy Towns team meets every Saturday at 11:00 am at their beach hut on Balbriggan beach and their gardening team meets most mornings mid-week. You can contact Balbriggan Tidy Towns at balbriggantidytowns@gmail.com or visit their website here.
Next up to present at the Fingal Virtual Volunteer Expo was Yetunde Joyce from Loving and Affectionate Family who provide a broad range of services for both adults and children in the migrant community. Loving and Affectionate Family cater for their beneficiaries by empowering them through various educational courses, providing mental health campaigns, Arts and Crafts workshops and Guidance to name but a few. If you are interested in volunteering with or learning more about Loving and Affectionate Family please contact them by emailing lovingandaffectionatefamily@gmail.com or yetundejoyce@lovingandaffectionatefamily.com
Next up on the roster was Ollie from Mountview Boys and Girls Football Club which is a club that is highly motivated in the growth of its athletes and coaches. Mountview Boys and Girls FC have been serving their local community for over 42 years and currently have 6 teams that they cater for – two under 9’s, two under 10’s, and two under 12’s. Ollie informed us that the club also runs a Friday Academy at the Mountview Youth and Community Centre – 4 to 5-year-olds times are 5 to 6 pm with 5 to 6-year-olds classes taking place from 6 to 7 pm. If you would like to volunteer or help out in any way please contact the Mountview Boys and Girls Football Club via email at mbgfc@outlook.com or alternatively ring 083 889 1507.
Sinead McGowan from the Portmarnock Integrated Arch Club was next up as she informed us of the great work being done at the club whose focus is geared towards people with additional needs. They are part of 42 clubs that engage in social integration and community activities and help fill the void where other clubs can not accommodate their members. Volunteers are asked to be present and engage with members, to assist and learn and develop from their interaction with additional needs, to train and develop via the club, and to have fun with members. Portmarnock Integrated Arch Club can be reached via email at archclubsdevelop@gmail.com or visit their website here.
Finally, reentering the podium, was the Fingal Volunteer Centres’ own Megan McGrath who introduced all to Fingal Volunteer Centres initiative called the Fingal Community Volunteers. Fingal Community Volunteers are trained in two specialist areas:
1) Local Community Events such as the upcoming SaferTogether Blanchardstown concert that takes place on Saturday the 11th of June 2022 with volunteers needed between 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm at the Millenium Park Blanchardstown.
2) Urgent Community Responses for situations such as volunteering for displaced people like Ukrainians who have fled during the current ongoing war.
Megan outlined the four steps to becoming a community volunteer;
a) Start your Application
b) Attend a brief Webinar
c) Engage in an Informal chat with Megan regarding the volunteering
d) Partake in full training offered by Volunteering Ireland
to find out more contact Megan McGrath via email at megan@volunteerfingal.ie or visit the Fingal Volunteer Centres Community Volunteers webpage.
Future Fingal Virtual Volunteer Expos
The Fingal Volunteer Centre will run the Fingal Virtual Volunteer Expo a number of times a year. If organisations would like to register for future events, and if those interested in volunteering would like to attend, please follow this link for more details or keep an eye out on the Fingal Volunteers Social Media platforms linked below, or alternatively contact Chiara via email on chiara@volunteerfingal.ie.
Click the Video Below to Watch the Fingal Virtual Volunteer Expo
