How to use our Service
Our aim is to connect those who wish to volunteer, to not for profit organisations who involve volunteers.
Steps to Volunteer with Sligo Volunteer Centre
Step 1: Register online – no commitment required at this stage. We will phone you and invite you to an optional Volunteer Information Session or help you over the phone.
Step 2: Browse opportunities and apply
Step 3: We refer you to the host organisations that you are interested in.
Step 4: They get in touch directly to begin the application process. This may involve an application form, informal interview, Garda Vetting, training etc.
Step 5: You begin volunteering!
Step 6: We give a support email/call approx 6 weeks after you have registered.
Interested in volunteering but not sure where to start?
Check out our Volunteer Information Sessions…
The Benefits of Volunteering
Sligo Volunteer Centre carries out programmes to promotes the benefits of volunteering.
Over the past few years we have:
- Run a Wellbeing series offering participants modules how to care for onesself as a volunteer and volunteer manager
- Run a very successful Headstart programme aimed at those who were unemployed and incporporating workshops on the importance of excercise, eating healthy when jobseeking.
- Held Volunteer Voices Coffee morning where we discussed the health benefits of volunteering
Volunteer Ireland launched a report during National Volunteering Week 2018 showing how volunteering can assist towards wellbeing.
Read the report here: Volunteer-Ireland-Report-FINAL Volunteers and wellbeing
Volunteering & Social Welfare
Volunteering while Jobseeking can be very rewarding.
Why?
- Allows you explore options
- Keep routine
- Looks good on CV
- Experience to talk about in interview
However, there is some confusion out there as to how it might impact on your benefits.
The Facts- Volunteers!
- You are allowed to volunteer while receiving Jobseekers Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance, in fact the Department encourage it – but there are a few conditions.*People in receipt of other benefits such as Disability Payment, Carers Payments etc. my need to read specific conditions for their payment rules.
- You need to be available for and genuinely seeking employment. The amount of hours you volunteer for is not necessarily a barrier.
- Your volunteering activities need to be really voluntary i.e. unpaid, and the organisation you volunteer with has to be not-for-profit.
- You should inform your deciding officer that you’re volunteering.
- They will give you a form to bring to the organisation you’re volunteering with (it’s called a VW1 form). The organisation fills in the form and return it to DSP. You may have to sign a part of it. This form is not designed to ‘check up on you’ – it is actually about making sure the organisation is an organisation who genuinely involves volunteers for genuine reasons.
- The Deciding Officer decides if the person can volunteer or not based on the type of volunteering involved; the aims and standing of the voluntary body; the weekly hours volunteered; and the amount of any payment received by way of out-of-pocket expenses. Note: there are no set weekly hours, and even people who contribute lots of voluntary hours may not be affected.
Other Payments:
Disability Payments: If you are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Illness benefit or Invalidity Pension, you must get permission to volunteer before you begin.
If you are getting Invalidity Pension you cannot do more than 19.5 hours per week voluntary work (no limits for those in receipt of Illness benefit or Disability Allowance)
If you are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, you can do a maximum of 15 hours per week voluntary work. You must get permission from Department of Social Protection before commencing Volunteer Work.
The Facts – Volunteer Involving Organisations
As an organisation who involves volunteers, you may be required to register your intention to involve volunteers who are in receipt of Social Welfare benefits with the local Social Welfare Office. This will probably come about when a volunteer presents you with a VW1 Form to sign.
This form is about making sure your organisation is one who genuinely involves volunteers for genuine reasons and that you are not ‘paying’ volunteers of replacing paid work with volunteers.
Having a VW1 Form completed in respect of volunteers in receipt of benefits protects both sides.
Further Information:
Citizens Information: www.citizensinformation.ie
Department of Social Protection: www.welfare.ie
