19 December 2023

The Good Relations Awards 2024 are now open for nominations.  The Awards will spotlight the vital role that members of the community throughout Northern Ireland play in delivering peacebuilding and community cohesion. The Good Relations Awards are run annually by the Community Relations Council in partnership with The Executive Office (TEO). They recognise exceptional commitment […]

14 December 2023

Volunteer Now highlights need for volunteers through the festive season and beyond The lead organisation for promoting and supporting volunteering in Northern Ireland, Volunteer Now, is appealing for people to give the gift of their time to those in need this Christmas, in the hope it will ‘start a habit that lasts all year’. As […]

11 December 2023

Volunteer Now is seeking a consultant to support us with the development of our new Strategic Plan. We want volunteering to be celebrated in all walks of life and to continue to evolve to attract new people, and we want our next strategy to lead the way. Volunteer Now is a membership organisation so our […]

27 November 2023

The Mayor’s Community Awards are back – and with five categories to choose from, Lisburn and Castlereagh residents are being urged to nominate the most deserving stars in their local area. Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC), Councillor Andrew Gowan, said: “The fantastic voluntary and community work taking place across the council is […]

15 November 2023

by Denise Hayward, Co-Chair Joint Forum – on behalf of the VCS Panel The Joint Forum was set up in 1988 to promote regular dialogue between the Voluntary and Community Sector and Departments of the NI Government.  The forum is made up of public sector representatives and a Voluntary and Community Sector Panel (VCS Panel) […]

14 November 2023

Volunteers make the world a better place for all of us. They share their time, skills, knowledge, and experience to make a positive difference in the places people live, learn, work, and relax. Volunteers contribute to the resilience of our communities and are the backbone of a compassionate and caring city. In recognition of this […]

14 November 2023

Congratulations to 9 volunteer groups in Northern Ireland that are among the recipients of the first King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023! The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest civil Award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.  262 Awardees from across the […]

1 November 2023

Trustees’ Week is a time  to celebrate the achievements of over 1 million trustees across the UK.  The theme this year is Many voices. Working together. With purpose.  As our external environment continues to change, we face new challenges. The positive impact you make as a trustee is invaluable to a sector that is now […]

20 October 2023

RNID’s Near You project offers a free, in-person drop-in service for people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, or want to get their hearing checked.  Volunteers give practical support to the service user and advice about other support services for hard of hearing people.  Here’s Tom, one of RNID’s volunteers, to tell more […]

18 October 2023

This week communities across the UK will celebrate the vital role and inspiring work of Community Transport in helping millions of people stay independent, participate in their communities and access essential public services and employment.  This year’s Community Transport Week, themed ‘Bridging the Gap; Connecting Communities’ will celebrate how accessible, inclusive and affordable transport is […]

9 October 2023

Findings from the Continuous Household Survey 2022/23 This report presents the findings from the 2022/23 Continuous Household Survey (CHS) in relation to engagement with culture, arts, heritage and sport in Northern Ireland. These findings are used to inform the development, monitoring and evaluation of policy.   In 2022/23, 21% of the adult population participated in […]

5 October 2023

To mark International Day of Older Persons on October 1 and Positive Ageing Month, the Northern Ireland Assembly Engagement Team would like to join voluntary and community groups in recognising the integral role of older people in our society and celebrate the contribution that older people make to their communities and Northern Ireland as a […]

28 September 2023

October is Positive Ageing Month, a month-long festival of events and activities for older people. It celebrates the contribution that older people make to their communities! Visit your local council website to find out all the great activities happening throughout the month in your area (some links to follow when we get them) … Antrim […]

22 September 2023

Volunteers are the beating heart of the NSPCC. Without them, they couldn’t help the children who need them. Whether you can spare an hour or two, or want to get involved more often, whatever time you can give is invaluable. There’s something for everyone! The NSPCC is calling on people in Northern Ireland to help […]

19 September 2023

by Martin J Cowling & Denise Hayward, Chief Executive, Volunteer Now For the average volunteer programme, greenhouse emissions, the 2015 Paris Agreement, and climate change feel very distant.  Our focus is usually on mobilising volunteers for our cause or issue and managing them effectively on a tight budget and limited time. As 2030 approaches, however, […]

18 September 2023

Extern transforms lives as the leading social justice charity across the island of Ireland. They believe another chance can change a life. Each year they speak up for and support more than 25,000 adults, children, young people and families. They are currently recruiting volunteers for the following roles, click the link for more information (note, […]

14 September 2023

The Institute of Volunteer Leadership (IVL) is a new initiative jointly organised by Volunteer Ireland and Volunteer Now.  It aims to unite leaders of volunteers from both Ireland and Northern Ireland, whether paid or unpaid, to create a vibrant network of knowledge sharing and professional development.  IVL envisions a future where leaders of volunteers can […]

12 September 2023

Have YOUR say in OUR policing and ensuring the voices of local people are heard on a wide range of issues. Applications are open for volunteers to join Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs) throughout NI. You need to be at least 18 years old and live in or be able to demonstrate a close […]

31 August 2023

Volunteering Participation Officer Volunteer Now is seeking to recruit a team member responsible for promoting and developing youth volunteering, youth social action and supporting volunteer involving organisations as they involve young people as volunteers. To find out more about this Full Time post, please click here. The closing date for this post is Friday 22 […]

31 August 2023

Come along for a morning of useful health advice and information, therapies, health checks, exhibitors, and much, much more! Men’s Health Day: Friday 13 October 2023, 10:30am – 1:30pm Women’s Health & Beauty Day: Wednesday 18 October 2023, 10:30am – 1:30pm Both events will be held in Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast BT14 […]

30 August 2023

Ahead of the world’s largest gathering of young leaders taking place in Belfast this October, we are putting a call out for volunteers to help roll out a giant welcome to Northern Ireland. Welcoming more than 2,000 young leaders from 190 countries, the One Young World Belfast summit (2-5 October 2023) will represent four life-changing […]

21 August 2023

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the landscape of volunteering is undergoing a transformation.  Are you ready to seize the opportunity and engage a new wave of volunteers effectively?  We are delighted to partner with Martin J Cowling and Rob Jackson to bring you Discovering the Power of Volunteering for International Volunteer Manager’s Day in November!  It will take […]

8 August 2023

7 August 2023

Each year volunteers join National Trust in caring for the Giant’s Causeway.  There are plenty of roles that are rewarding and help to look after this nationally important place.  Find out how you can volunteer and help others to enjoy this UNESCO World Heritage site (click the link to find out more and to register)… […]

3 August 2023

In this edition of The Credit Union Pod (below), Barry Harrington & Mark Johnston, Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) speak with Denise Hayward, CEO, Volunteer Now and Nina Arwitz, CEO, Volunteer Ireland about the challenges and opportunities in volunteering for credit unions.  They discuss the trends/challenges in volunteering, struggles to recruit volunteers, corporate social […]

2 August 2023

Grief can be overwhelming.  Cruse Bereavement Support help people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support, information and campaigning.  By joining their growing volunteer fundraising team you’ll help to raise awareness and vital funds to support bereaved people in Northern Ireland. They need volunteers throughout Northern Ireland to help […]

25 July 2023

If you’d like to support your local community by helping to ensure that people who are worried about or affected by dementia are aware of the support and advice services on offer, Alzheimer’s Society have just the role for you! Awareness Raising volunteers are needed to support local events, hold information stands, and display leaflets […]

20 July 2023

Look Good, Feel Better are dedicated to improving the quality of life & self-esteem of people in cancer treatment.   They are looking for people with a skincare and/or makeup background, either currently working in the beauty industry or retired, for their workshops which support people with a cancer diagnosis to help them manage the physical […]

19 July 2023

by Denise Hayward, Chief Executive, Volunteer Now Volunteers are a huge part of the many community, arts and sports events which are taking place over the next few months. Many organisations involve volunteers in their events and could not run them without the help of their volunteers.  Volunteer Now worked with Tourism NI to create […]

10 July 2023

NI Chest Heart & Stroke need volunteers to help NICHS staff with walking groups for service users living with a heart condition.   A staff member will lead the walk and you will support them and walk with the group.  Routes for walking groups are flat, friendly and accessible to people who need some support to […]