Training & Support Services

We run regular training for Not For Profit Groups.

Below is a list of training courses that we offer. If you would like a session organised for your group, please contact us. Training will be delivered online for the foreseeable future.  Content and offerings may vary from below.

1. Garda Vetting Training: BY ARRANGEMENT

(2 hours)

What is involved?

Sligo Volunteer Centre process vetting on behalf of affiliates who do not have access to the National Vetting Bureau. This training takes you through the current legislation, who should be vetted, when it is not necessary and how to submit vetting through the Evetting system.

Who is it for?

This is for not for profit organisations who wish to sign up to our E-Vetting service. Ideally the attendee will be the person who is responsible for vetting in their organisation. It is also suitable for Board Members.

What does it cost?

€25

  • further €25 to register with the GV service after training

2. Finding & Keeping Volunteers:

(½ Day)

What is involved?

This session covers what Sligo Volunteer Centre can do for you, what volunteers want from volunteering, tips for developing attractive volunteer roles & an overview of planning for volunteers.

Who is it for?

This is an introductory level workshop aimed at staff or volunteers in non-profit groups who recruit and manage volunteers. Ideally the person within the organisation who has/will have responsibility for planning for volunteer involvement will attend.

What does it cost? *Price per participant

Nationally Affiliated groups/larger groups / networks / charities / NGOs: =€40

Small organisations / local community groups: = €20

Volunteers with no access to organisational funding –suggested contribution: = €5

3. A New Volunteering Landscape

(1 hour 30 minutes)

What is involved?

A New Volunteering Landscape – Creating new volunteer roles and adapting pre-pandemic volunteer roles
This session will cover key issues for volunteer programmes right now such as adapting current roles to fit current circumstances and creating new roles for new demands. We will look at how to manage volunteers offsite, including virtual volunteering and volunteering from home. And crucially, we will look at what organisations need to do to ensure their volunteer programmes can survive during these challenging times.

Who is it for?

This is suitable for anyone who manages volunteers or anyone involved in a group who want to adapt to the new normal!

What does it cost?

FREE

Booking here

4. Dealing with Challenging Situations

(½ day)

What is involved?

Working with volunteers can present certain challenges. It is human nature to want to put if off in the hope that it will sort itself out! Addressing difficulties as early as possible will help to avoid an escalation that will demand more of your valuable time. This workshop will give you the skills and confidence to face these situations.

Who is it for?

This is suitable for anyone who manages volunteers.

What does it cost? *Price per participant

Nationally Affiliated groups/larger groups / networks / charities / NGOs: =€40

Small organisations / local community groups: = €20

Volunteers with no access to organisational funding –suggested contribution: = €5

5. Volunteer Leadership Training (2 days or 4 Half Days)

(2 days or 4 Half Days)

What is involved?

This is a modular training designed to bring organisations through the range of Volunteer Leadership topics. They are designed to provide participants with a Best Practice Framework for involving volunteers in their organisation. The training covers planning and getting ready for volunteer involvement, best practices for recruitment, selection and induction, support and supervision and tools to design a volunteer policy.

Who is it for? 

This training is aimed at those individuals responsible for directly dealing with & managing volunteers or organisations with volunteer structures that need development. It is also suitable if you wish to develop best practice volunteer management frameworks for your group/organisation.

What does it cost? *Price per participant

Nationally Affiliated groups/larger groups / networks / charities / NGOs: =€160

Small organisations / local community groups: = €100

Volunteers with no access to organisational funding –suggested contribution: = €10

Volunteer co-ordinators Get Together

Sligo Volunteer Centre facilitates regular get togethers for local Volunteer Co-Ordinators.

These Get Togethers are an opportunity to meet with other Volunteer Co-ordinators, paid and unpaid, to get support and discuss topics with those who manage volunteers.

The Forum is free, and typically involve an open discussion as well a presentation on volunteer management topics chosen by participants.

They are

  • informal
  • interactive
  • inspirational!

If you are interested in joining us – get in touch on info@volunteersligo.ie and follow our social media pages to find out when the next one is on!

Garda Vetting Service

Sligo Volunteer Centre is registered with the National Vetting Bureau to provide a vetting service for small to medium sized organisations who wish to vet their volunteers, but who do not have access to a Liaison person within their own organisation.

As of April 29th 2016, a new Bill – The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 came into effect.

This act makes it mandatory for people working with children or vulnerable adults to be vetted by the Garda Síochána National Vetting Bureau.

WHO MUST BE VETTED?

Vetting is a legal requirement for any person who is carrying out relevant work or activity under Schedule 1 of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 – 2016.

Relevant work must be a regular and consistent part of their role; it should not be incidental to their role (i.e. happening as a minor accompaniment to something else). This sheet will help you determine who should be vetted. (Link to the Who should be vetted sheet)

WHAT IS A VULNERABLE ADULT?

A vulnerable person means a person, other than a child, who is suffering from a disorder of the mind, whether as a result of mental illness or dementia, has an intellectual disability, is suffering from a physical impairment, whether as a result of injury, illness or age, or has a physical disability, which is of such a nature or degree as to restrict the capacity of the person to guard himself or herself against harm by another person, or that results in the person requiring assistance with the activities of daily living including dressing, eating, walking, washing and bathing.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR ORGANISATION?

In Summary:

If your organisation engages people in relevant work, you are required by law to vet anyone who is engaged in this work before they commence their role.

Your organisation will have to decide by looking at the Schedules in the Act, which roles are relevant work and which are not. To vet someone who does not require vetting is a breach of the Act and of Data Protection.

There are new obligations required by you. These are

  • A legal responsibility to check, verify and keep on file the applicants ID
  • The storage of disclosures and data returned on each vetting subject

HOW DOES THE SERVICE WORK?

For details on the process please contact Ciara or Olivia on gardavetting@volunteersligo.ie or by calling the Volunteer Centre on 071-911 1042

In general, to avail of this service:

Your organisation will be required to attend training on the Garda Vetting process and legislation. We organise training a few times per annum. Cost: s is €25.

To register as an affiliate with the Garda Vetting service, there is a once off cost of €25.

  • You will be required to sign a Service Level Agreement and other documents with us before service can commence
  • There is a processing charge of €15.00 per form thereafter.