National Volunteering Week (19th – 25th May) took place during the third week of May every year and is dedicated to showcasing the enormous contribution of volunteers and their impact on our communities.
Throughout the week, events were held nationwide to celebrate and promote volunteering. In Mayo, activities will range from capturing inspiring volunteer stories and organising beach clean-ups, to the Ballina District Hospital rejuvenation project and the Cosy Blanket initiative – an uplifting collaboration with Mayo Hospice. The week will also feature volunteering information sessions aimed at encouraging more people to get involved and how community groups can support their volunteers.
This year’s theme was Building Community Together, with a specific focus on the social opportunities that volunteering offers such as meeting new people, making friends and connecting with your community.
Kim Merrifield, Volunteer Centre Manager commented, “Outside of home and work, volunteering is the ‘third space’ for many people where we connect, empathise, laugh and nurture. The bonds that are built through volunteering strengthen our communities and unite us as we mind each other. National Volunteering Week is an opportunity for the whole country to celebrate how our countless instances of supporting our community connects us into a huge network of care.”
