Programmes
Have you ever thought about volunteering while exploring Ireland? It might be a great chance to visit Ireland, make new friends and have exciting new experiences!
The European Solidarity Corps programme provides you with structured opportunities to volunteer with a wide variety of organisations across Ireland. It provides lots of support, including financial support towards travel, accommodation and pocket money. Projects can range from 2 to 12 months. However, it’s also worth noting that under special circumstances an ESC project can be less than 2 months. The ESC projects are visible on the European Youth Portal. To apply, you need to create an account on the website. Please note that searching the different projects is easier once you are logged in. The placements are widely varied in subject matter, but the majority are related to the environment; arts and culture; activities with children, young people or the elderly; heritage; or sports and leisure activities. In recent years, there has been a large increase in projects that support refugees and asylum seekers. All the projects aim to benefit communities and people around Europe.
The volunteerdublin.ie website is a joint project of volunteer centres in Dublin, bringing you all the latest news about volunteering opportunities, events and training opportunities in Dublin. South Dublin County, Fingal, Dublin City and Dunlaoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centres are delighted to be collaborating on this website. Each year, the volunteer centres identify common areas of work including training programs, conferences and projects.
Volunteer Ireland involves volunteers in all areas of our work including events, corporate volunteering, administration and communications. Some volunteers are involved just once for a one-off activity, others give one day a week and some volunteer full time depending on the needs of the team and the volunteer.
Camphill Communities of Ireland is part of an international movement working with people with intellectual disabilities and other kinds of special needs. In Camphill the volunteer carers are known as co-workers. They live and work alongside people with intellectual disabilities and other special needs in one of eighteen Camphill communities in the Republic of Ireland. Co-workers come from around the globe and from diverse backgrounds. They come to Camphill for different reasons and for different lengths of time. Ways of volunteering in Camphill include: doing Zivildienst im Ausland or a freiwilliges soziales Jahr if you're coming from Germany; or doing a gap year abroad if you're coming from elsewhere. Work undertaken can include personal support for individuals; cooking and cleaning for households; farming, gardening, and craft work.
More information and organisations active in this field
Voluntary Service International (VSI) arranges volunteer projects in Ireland for Irish and international volunteers and sends volunteers on projects in 94 countries, both short term (2 weeks) and long term (up to 12 months). All projects are with non-profit/community and voluntary organisations.
Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centre Services publish volunteering opportunities in Ireland. To register as a volunteer with Volunteer Ireland or a local Volunteer Centre, you must have an address in the Republic of Ireland.
WWOOF Ireland is part of a worldwide effort to link visitors with organic farmers, promote an educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming practices. Visitors, or 'WWOOFers', share in daily life with their host and learn about organic agriculture, while spending about half of each day helping out on a farm.
Interesting links
National Volunteering Database – database of volunteering opportunities in Ireland.
Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centre Services publish volunteering opportunities in Ireland.
Active Link is an online network for community and non-profit organisations in Ireland – volunteering opportunities in the charity and not-for-profit sector in Ireland.
