Galway’s army of volunteers rack up 31,000 hours

If Galway’s army of volunteers were charging for their services last year, they’d have cost an estimated €7 million for their 31,000 hours’ work.

That’s according to Volunteer Galway which revealed the total in its annual report, released this week.

Last year, the organisation saw a 26% increase in the amount of people coming in to their service seeking volunteer work – many of whom had never volunteered before.

Development Manager with Volunteer Galway, Donncha Foley, highlighted that this amounted to 1,055 new service users last year.

“The figures in the report highlight that volunteering is an option that is considered by many people in Galway, and that more and more non-profit organisations use our service to advertise volunteer roles and connect with people wanting to make a difference in Galway,” he said.

“There are many non-profits in Galway that find it incredibly difficult to access supports to enable them to build on their successes, and we believe that we are best placed to assist them in this,” he added.

In addition to the regular service it provides to members of the public, Volunteer Galway, who worked with 72 new organisations last year, developed a specialised support service, Flourish, to assist people recovering from mental health challenges by encouraging them to volunteer as part of their recovery.

Over 750 volunteers have been vetted for non-profits to assist them with the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

The organisation also established the Galway Community Excellence Network that sources training and expert advice on organisational management for non-profits.

Volunteer Galway has been helping members of the public find volunteer work since 2006, providing a constantly updated list of roles on their website and matching people with roles that reflect their interests and availability.

“We are always amazed by the amount of people who come to us with a desire to do something to help others, and we provide a confidential service that gets people doing something that they like and benefits others at the same time,” said Donncha.

Galway City Mayor Noel Larkin congratulated Volunteer Galway on its work and impact in 2015 and in previous years at the launch of its 2015 Annual Report.

“I would encourage anyone living in Galway to get involved in their local community, and Volunteer Galway is ready and willing to help people find out how,” said Mayor Larkin.

Volunteer Galway chairman Walter Russell said the organisation would be issuing a Call to Action this year to the Business and Corporate Sector in Galway to engage with the local community through the support of volunteering initiatives.

“Research has shown the many benefits from volunteering for companies, their staff and the communities in which they operate,” he said.

“Volunteer Galway in 2015 has continues its focus and drive in offering a high quality service to our users whether they be individuals, communities or other voluntary organisations.”