10 September 2020

A new Clause has been added to the Immigration & Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill  –  Immigration Health Surcharge: Exemption for International Volunteers. “Immigration health surcharge: exemption for international volunteers ( ) A charge under section 38 of the Immigration Act 2014 (immigration health charge) may not be imposed on EEA and Swiss nationals […]

10 September 2020

Do you want to know more about online volunteer induction?  What to include and how to make it visually appealing?  If so, Volunteer Now have the session for you! It will answer those questions and more and also explain how we do it.  There will be a Question & Answer session afterwards. The next session […]

8 September 2020

Join Us! An opportunity to network and share! A follow up to our COVID-19 related VOLT series of Volunteer Now Members’ Session, looking at volunteering across themes: Volunteering in Environment & Heritage Groups  –  How are things going in light of COVID-19? Thursday 17 September 2020, 11.00am – 12.00pm COVID-19 has changed how we do […]

2 September 2020

The closing date for the Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration has been extended to Friday 4 September 2020. The Course This stimulating and challenging course has been designed by Ulster University to develop the professional capacity of those working in or alongside the public sector and to ensure that existing spaces are managed in a […]

1 September 2020

Join Us! An opportunity to network and share! A follow up to our COVID-19 related VOLT series of Volunteer Now Members’ Session, looking at volunteering across themes: Volunteer Driving  –  How are things going in light of COVID-19? Thursday 10 September 2020, 11.00am – 12.00pm COVID-19 has changed how we do so many things and […]

28 August 2020

On 20 April 2020, NISRA launched a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) Opinion Survey designed to measure how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was affecting peoples’ lives and behaviour in Northern Ireland.  A report providing a summary of the key findings following the completion of Phase 2 of this research has just been released. It shows that people […]

27 August 2020

Our latest information sheet has just been published!  ‘Volunteers & Paid Staff: Exploring the Issues‘ contains some thoughts for organisations considering the creation of volunteer roles where there were once paid staff.  It covers job substitution and key issues to consider. Click here to download.

26 August 2020

Throughout the pandemic, your support in following public health guidelines has been vital in reducing the spread of coronavirus.  By doing so, you have saved lives.  As ‘lockdown’ restrictions are eased, we face the risk of a second wave of infection.  We can all help minimise that risk by continuing to support public health measures […]

24 August 2020

Join Us! An opportunity to network and share! A follow up to our COVID-19 related VOLT series of Volunteer Now Members’ Session, looking at volunteering across themes: Volunteering in Charity Shops  –  How are things going in light of COVID-19? Thursday 3 September 2020, 11.00am – 12.00pm COVID-19 has changed how we do so many […]

10 August 2020

Join Us! An opportunity to network and share! A follow up to our COVID-19 related VOLT series of Volunteer Now Members’ Session, looking at volunteering across themes: How are things going in light of COVID-19? Volunteering in Charity Shops  –  Thursday 3 September 2020 at 11am-12pm Volunteer Driving  –  Thursday 10 September 2020 at 11am-12pm […]

7 August 2020

Does your organisation host events regularly?  Are you making plans for events next year?  Will you need volunteers help to make these happen?  Then this FREE advice service* is for you! As the lead organisation for volunteering across Northern Ireland, Volunteer Now has been involved in recruiting, training, managing and motivating volunteers at events since […]

29 July 2020

Helping the Helpers – Running effective telephone support through the involvement of volunteers Thursday 6 August 2020  |  11am-12pm Volunteer Now is delighted to be partnering with Change Your Mind and Inspire to deliver this webinar. WHO FOR?  The webinar is aimed at organisations that are supporting volunteers who are making or receiving calls with […]

23 July 2020

Young people from Turf Lodge have dedicated their free time over the past few weeks to the area, and took part in a community wide clean up on Tuesday. With the help of local political representatives, youth workers and residents, Upper Springfield Youth Team painted over graffiti, lifted rubbish on their streets and removed overgrown […]

22 July 2020

We now have a dedicated page for all our Recorded Webinars!  These webinars cover many topics in relation to volunteering and volunteer involving organisations i.e. involving volunteers in response to COVID-19, youth volunteering, fundraising, volunteer driving, guidelines for volunteers & more! View the page here.

10 July 2020

7 July 2020

Join us for the first in a series of sessions on Volunteer Now’s new online platform ‘Be Collective’: Introduction to Be Collective, Registering as  New User and Creating Your Own Personal Profile Thursday 9 July 2020 11.00am-12.00pm Volunteer Now is thrilled to have officially launched our new volunteering opportunity search portal in conjunction with the […]

7 July 2020

The Queen’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.  It is the MBE for volunteer groups.  Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated […]

2 July 2020

Calling all groups funded by the Arts Council NI – Volunteer Now can undertake a review of your safeguarding policy and provide training! For more information check out this video by our Training and Development Officer Roisin Timlin: Contact Roisin by email – roisin.timlin@volunteernow.co.uk

2 July 2020

Three young people from Northern Ireland have each won a prestigious award for their fundraising efforts and work in their local communities. Congratulations to Ben Mooney from Bangor, one of our Youth Forum members and a Millennium Volunteer awardee!   And Congratulations to the other two awardees as well – Jamie Harkin from Omagh, was also […]

30 June 2020

An Open Letter to Senior Managers & Boards of Volunteer Involving & Deploying Organisations in all Sectors The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented.  Organisations of all types – charities, small and large businesses, and public sector bodies – have been challenged in delivering their core services.  Few have escaped the financial, operational, […]

29 June 2020

A special COVID-19 related series of Volunteer Now Members’ Sessions to look at volunteering across a series of themes started on 14 May with Rethinking Volunteering in Charity Shops Post COVID-19.  The following sessions were: Rethinking Volunteering in One-to-One and Group Support Roles Post COVID-19 Rethinking Youth Volunteering in LIght of COVID-19 (view recording here) Rethinking Volunteering in Environmental […]

29 June 2020

Developed in conjuction with Volunteer Now Enterprises Ltd and Volunteer Ireland, this Level 9 course is delivered by St. Angela’s College, Sligo and awarded by NUI Galway.  For 2020/21 this course is being offered online and applications are welcome from applicants from Northern Ireland, Ireland and overseas. If you are interested in finding out more about […]

26 June 2020

Mind My MS are launching nine MS Connect Cafes through Mid & East Antrim and need volunteers to help.  These monthly cafes are informal gatherings where people living with MS can meet in a relaxed and friendly environment.  It’s an opportunity to make connections, support one another and have a coffee together. They are looking […]

23 June 2020

The Centre for Lifelong Learning at St Angela’s College, Sligo in partnership with Volunteer Now and Volunteer Ireland has worked on the design of a programme for the volunteer management sector. This Postgraduate Certificate in Volunteer Leadership and Management aims to introduce volunteer management within the context of effective volunteer resource planning, strategic operations, communications, leadership skills, governance and compliance. By meeting volunteer […]

22 June 2020

Volunteer Now was delighted to get an update from one of the companies involved in our Employer Supported Volunteering programme.   Last October Calvert Office Equipment had responded to an ask from the Renal Unit of Belfast City Hospital, to create a garden area which could be used by patients, staff and visitors.  Before Christmas they […]

17 June 2020

Women’s Aid have launched a NEW web chat service for women suffering domestic abuse. The web chat will allow women to access immediate support and referral to lifesaving, crisis accommodation and outreach services, without having to pick up the phone. Initiated by Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid along with Foyle Women’s Aid, the service comes […]

16 June 2020

As we are living in the middle of a pandemic, volunteering has changed.  Join Volunteer Now Enterprises Ltd for a short session looking at volunteering during the pandemic and the future of volunteering post COVID-19. Date:  Wednesday 1 July 2020 Time:  10.00 – 11.30am Cost:  £5 +VAT Book your place here.  Joining information will be sent […]

15 June 2020

PLEASE NOTE THIS WEBINAR IN NOW FULLY BOOKED This FREE webinar will offer you advice and guidance about your role, your safety and the safety of others.  It will be followed by a Question & Answer session. Date:  Tuesday 30 June 2020 Time:  11am-12pm

15 June 2020

A special COVID-19 related series of Volunteer Now Members’ Sessions to look at volunteering across a series of themes started on 14 May with Rethinking Volunteering in Charity Shops Post COVID-19.  The following sessions were: Rethinking Volunteering in One-to-One and Group Support Roles Post COVID-19 Rethinking Youth Volunteering in LIght of COVID-19 (view recording here) Rethinking Volunteering in Environmental […]

15 June 2020

Positive Emotional Wellbeing Boxes filled with 7 days of fun activities and resources, are helping make a difference to some of the most vulnerable young people across Mid and East Antrim during Loneliness Awareness Week. The boxes, made by locally based company Fresh Minds Education, an innovate social enterprise who develop emotional wellbeing resources, products […]