On a recent episode of Disability Matters on Phoenix FM, host John Comiskey spoke with Ruth Bannon, Outreach and Community Volunteer Officer with Fingal Volunteer Centre, about the power of volunteering, the wide range of opportunities available, and how volunteers and organisations can be supported to thrive together.
What Does Fingal Volunteer Centre Do?
Fingal Volunteer Centre plays a key role in connecting people who want to volunteer with charities, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations across the Fingal area. Founded in 2001, the centre supports hundreds of organisations, helping them recruit, manage, and value volunteers.
Ruth’s role focuses on:
- Matching volunteers with suitable roles
- Supporting one-off community and event volunteering
- Delivering outreach talks in hospitals, schools, community centres, and local groups
- Promoting the positive impact of volunteering on both individuals and communities
Ireland is unique in having a volunteer centre in every county, and Dublin is particularly well served with four centres — a sign of how central volunteering is to community life.
Finding the Right Volunteer Role
A key message from the interview was that there truly is a volunteer role for everyone. Whether someone wants to volunteer weekly, help out at a one-off event, or even volunteer from home, opportunities exist.
People can explore roles through:
- IVOL.ie – the national volunteering platform where organisations advertise current opportunities
- Direct contact with Fingal Volunteer Centre for personalised guidance and support
Ruth highlighted that many organisations don’t always realise how volunteers could help them — and part of her job is helping create roles that didn’t previously exist.
Why People Volunteer
Volunteering offers far more than just practical help. According to Ruth, it:
- Builds confidence and self-worth
- Reduces isolation and strengthens community connections
- Helps people develop new skills and friendships
- Can open unexpected doors to education, training, and employment
She shared examples of volunteers gaining new qualifications, supported by the organisations they volunteer with — showing how volunteering can be life-changing in ways people don’t always anticipate.
Guard Vetting: Clearing Up the Myths
One common misconception is that all volunteer roles require Garda vetting. In reality, vetting is only needed for specific roles — particularly where volunteers may form close relationships with children, older people, or vulnerable adults. Many one-off events and community roles do not require vetting at all.
Community Volunteers & Local Events
The Community Volunteer Programme, originally set up during COVID, now supports festivals, sporting events, cultural days, and local celebrations across Fingal. Event organisers work directly with the Volunteer Centre, which manages volunteer recruitment and coordination — making events easier to run and more inclusive.
Upcoming and past events include major local festivals like Flavours of Fingal, as well as smaller community celebrations.
Outreach, Training, and Recognition
Fingal Volunteer Centre also delivers:
- Outreach programmes in schools, hospitals, and community groups
- Creative community projects, such as intergenerational and inclusion-focused initiatives
- Volunteer management training, including the Fingal Managing Volunteer Awards
These awards recognise organisations that invest in best practice when supporting volunteers. The programme culminates each year on National Volunteer Day (5 December) with a celebration event honouring organisations and volunteer managers.
How to Get Involved
Anyone interested in volunteering — or organisations seeking volunteers — can contact Fingal Volunteer Centre directly:
📞 01 899 1921
📧 info@volunteerfingal.ie
🌐 Fingal Volunteer Centre (via IVOL.ie)
As Ruth emphasised, volunteering can start small — but you never know where it might lead.
This interview aired on Disability Matters on 92.5 Phoenix FM, a programme produced by Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living (BCIL).
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