Institute of Volunteer Leadership 2024 Sessions

The Institute of Volunteer Leadership (IVL) is designed for leaders of volunteers, whether paid or unpaid, based in Ireland and Northern Ireland.  if you are eager to enhance your leadership skills, seek opportunities for professional development, and deepen your understanding of volunteer management, this programme is tailor-made for you.  The programme is managed by Volunteer Ireland & Volunteer Now, and funded by the Community Foundation.

Join us for a transformative journey where leaders of volunteers come together to share experiences, knowledge, and build a powerful network of leaders of volunteers across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Over the coming months we have planned four interactive and engaging sessions to help us build this all-island Institute of Volunteer Leadership for Leaders of Volunteers.  Two of our sessions will be in-person visits in Belfast and Dublin to projects that excel in volunteer engagement practice.

For the online sessions we are delighted to be joined by Dr. Chris Millora, Assistant Professor, Goldsmiths University of London and Matthew Hick, Head of Volunteering, Science Museum Group (UK).

Click on the relevant date below to find out more on each session and to book your place:

In-person volunteer project visits:

Dublin:  18 September 2024  |  10.30am-1.00pm
This volunteer project visit to the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin will give an insight into the environment the volunteers from Victim Support at Court (VSAC) operate in and the important work they do.  We will learn about the VSAC volunteer programme, including selection, training, support and recognition.  You will have the opportunity to chat to some of the volunteers about why they do what they do, how they are supported and what benefits they get from their volunteer role.

There will be a presentation about the VSAC volunteer programme and a visit to the Victim Support Room so they get a sense of how Sara Murphy, VSAC Criminal Courts of Justice Coordinator (and National Volunteer Manager of the Year 2018) works with the volunteers to provide such a valuable service.

Belfast:  5 December 2024  |  12.30-2.30pm
Melanie Fitzgerald, Volunteer Coordinator Team Lead with Belfast Health & Social Care Trust will facilitate a face to face session about volunteering in an NHS Trust.

The session will look at the roles volunteers play both in acute and community settings.  It will also reflect on the key challenges and impacts of involving volunteers in a highly regulated healthcare setting.  The venue will be central Belfast, but we will confirm the venue later.  This event is part of the celebrations of UN International Volunteer Day, which takes place on Thursday 5 December 2024.

Online sessions:

16 October 2024  |  10am-12pm
Localisation in Volunteering with Dr Chris Millora
Chris will draw on his research experience about the important role localism plays in volunteering in the global south and what we can learn in relation to the development of place based volunteering policy for the UK and Ireland.

5 November 2024  |  10am-1pm
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast with Matthew Hick
In this workshop, we will explore the interplay between culture and strategy and the steps you can take to create meaningful and lasting change.  During the session, we will look at how Kotter’s Model of Change can help you create a culture conducive to volunteer engagement.  We’ll explore how you can create a strategy that will maximise the culture that you have created.