Volunteering Booklet 2011

Student volunteering With the DIT Societies Office

www.socs.dit.ie/studentvoluteering www.facebook.com/ditstudentvolunteering

INTRO Hi All, A huge welcome to those of you who are entering third level education for the first time it’s great to have you here at DIT and to those who are returning to education after a long time, cead mile failte! To our students who are returning from the four corners of the world after a summer of hard work and hard play welcome back!

In DIT we encourage our students to give something back. We are running a volunteering programme throughout the year, and we want as many students as possible to get involved!

There are loads of ways to “Get Involved” in the community, either within college through societies, clubs, chaplaincy, community links and the students’ union, or beyond with local, national and international community organisations that heavily rely on volunteers to function.

In this booklet we have highlighted opportunities available to DIT students that involve volunteering with children, the elderly, animals, fundraising, overseas etc. It could be a few hours once off, an hour a fortnight or a few weeks in the summer. No matter your skills, interests or availability there is something to suit you!

Individuals decide to volunteer for a variety of different reasons, but here are a few to encourage you to get stuck in to voluntary activity while at DIT: Meet new people Gain new perspectives Increase your employability Feel part of the community Discover a passion Improve your confidence

Develop skills Try new things Gain experience Make a difference Have fun

Whatever your reason, be sure to give it a go! We will be here to help you at any stage of your voyage.

Have a great year, Teri teri.oboyle@dit.ie DIT Societies Development Officer Volunteering and Communications

“In Your work as a volunteer will be a great asset to any club or society, individual or community in need of your support, but it will also be a great opportunity for you.

It can be fun and rewarding, but it will also help you to develop organisational and communication skills; the ability to work in a team and to solve problems in real situations.The diversity of experience you will gain as a volunteer will be invaluable in your future career, and I encourage you to get involved.�

- Professor Brian Norton, DIT President.

INDEX Page 4 Volunteering Induction Programme Page 5 Volunteering with the Homeless Page 6 Volunteering with Children/Youth Page 7 Volunteering Overseas (VOS) Page 8 Volunteering with DIT Societies Page 9 Volunteering with SVP Page 10 Volunteering in DIT

Page 11 Volunteering with IT & Animals & Elderly Page 12 Volunteering with Groups Page 13 Do’s & Don’ts Page 14 Info child protection/garda vetting Page 15 contact info

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First Year Volunteering Induction Project

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For more info contact the Societies Office: Teri O’Boyle teri.oboyle@dit.ie 01 402 4142

Get Involved

facebook.com/DITSocietiesOffice

iffe g back D n a i h e t k e a m o • M er, give s s e t n u l o • V w friend e n e k a e • M w peopl her freshers e n t e e • M with ot plied e s i l a i c o up • S pment s i u q e l l • A

in conjunction with

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Volunteering with the Homeless Focus Ireland

Capuchin Day Centre Type of Organisation: Homeless Charity

Type of Organisation: Homeless Charity Volunteering Opportunities include: Visiting homeless in new accommodation In the cafĂŠ in Templebar

Volunteering Opportunities include: In day centre for those who are homeless Food parcel packing Garda Vetting Required: Yes for day centre No for food parcels

Garda Vetting Required: Yes/No (depending on role) Website: www.focusireland.ie

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Website: www.homeless.ie

Contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie to apply

Volunteering with Children/Youth Ballybough Youth Project

Reel Youth Type of Organisation: Charity that works with the young people Volunteering Opportunities include: Assisting with video production training Supervision of video shoots.

Garda Vetting Required: Yes Website: www.cityarts.ie/yua/programmes/reelyouth

Type of Organisation: Charity that works with the young people Volunteering Opportunities include: Working with teens - Homework clubs Sports opportunities - Computer / Dance classes Garda Vetting Required: Yes Website: www. ballyboughyouth.blogspot.com Â

An Siol

SWICN Computer Clubhouse

Type of Organisation: Charity that works with the young people Volunteering Opportunities include: After school tuition program Garda Vetting Required: Yes Website: www.activelink.ie/node/189

Contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie to apply

Type of Organisation: Charity that works with the young people Volunteering Opportunities include: Mentoring Graphic Design Programming Garda Vetting Required: No Website: www.theclubhouse.ie

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Volunteering Overseas (VOS)

Wells for Zoe

Leargas Type of Organisation: (Funded) Volunteer Overseas throughout Europe.

Volunteering Opportunities include: Check leargas.ie for full details

Type of Organisation: Volunteer Overseas throughout Europe.

Volunteering Opportunities include: Fund raising and trip to Malawi Garda Vetting Required: No

Garda Vetting Required: No

Website: www.wellsforzoe.org www.w4zvolunteers.wordpress.com

Website: www.leargas.ie

Email: Cassandra.lorriane@gmail.com

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Contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie to apply

Volunteering with DIT Societies DIT Society Committees Volunteering Opportunities include: Organising and facilitating a Society’s activities.

Garda Vetting Required: No

Guitar Soc Summer Camp Volunteering Opportunities include: Volunteering with community groups Volunteering at guitar soc summer camp Garda Vetting Required: Yes

DIT News

Societies Xmas Appeal

Volunteering Opportunities include: Writing/reporting Editing/photography layout/design of student lead newspaper

Volunteering Opportunities include: First week of December to get involved with the annual Xmas Appeal Garda Vetting Required: No

Garda Vetting Required: No Contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie to apply

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Volunteering with SVP

DIT SVP Society

SVP ORG Type of Organisation: St.Vincent De Paul

Type of Organisation: St.Vincent De Paul

Volunteering Opportunities include: Home visitations Homeless shelters, Educational projects Hospitals visits

Volunteering Opportunities include: Volunteer with DIT SVP Society’s activities

Garda Vetting Required: Depends on oppurtunity

Website: www.socs.dit.ie

Website: www.svp.ie

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Garda Vetting Required: Depends on opportunity

Contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie to apply

Volunteering in DIT DIT Chaplaincy

DIT Student Union Volunteering Opportunities include: Volunteer with the DIT Students Union, be a class rep, volunteer for rag, be part of the events crew.

Volunteering Opportunities include: Volunteer with the DIT Chaplaincy Service, through social action and outreach activities.

Events nationally and internationally Website: http://chaplaincy.dit.ie Email: mary.flanagan@dit.ie

Website: www.ditsu.ie/get-involved Email: info@ditsu.ie

DIT Sports Office

DIT Comunity Links Volunteering Opportunities include: Volunteer with the DIT Community Links Garda Vetting Required: Yes Website: www.communitylinks.ie

Volunteering Opportunities Include: linking with local schools and coaching GAA and Soccer, linking with local community groups, coaching college teams, reporting on sports events for DIT News Website : www.ditsports.ie Email: info@ditsports.ie

Contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie to apply

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Volunteering with IT & Animals & Elderly Irish Blue Cross

Camara

Type of Organisation: Charity that volunteers with animals Volunteering Opportunities include: Volunteer front of house at mobile clinics

Type of Organisation: Charity that refurbishes IT equipment to send to Africa Volunteering Opportunities include: Assembling and refurbishing computers

Website: www.bluecross.ie

Website: http://camara.ie/web

Friends of the elderly Type of Organisation: Charity that work with the Elderly Volunteering Opportunities include: Summer Marketing Intern Wednesday Social Club Weekly home visits in community

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Â

Garda Vetting Required: No (Summer Internship and Social Club) Yes (Visiting elderly in their home) Website: www.friendsoftheelderly.ie

Contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie to apply

Volunteering with Groups Habitat for Humanity

Dublin City Council Type of Organisation: Volunteer with Dublin City Council Volunteering Opportunities include: Volunteer as a group with a range of DCC opportunites, including tree planting, park, river and beach clean ups, biodiversity projects

Type of Organisation: Charity that helps provide homes Volunteering Opportunities include: Painting and decorating houses

Garda Vetting Required: No

Garda Vetting Required: No Website: www.habitatireland.ie

Website: www.dublincity.ie

Contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie to apply

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Volunteering info - Do’s & Dont There is a long tradition of student and staff volunteering both within DIT and beyond in local, national and international communities.Volunteering not only serves to benefit others, but it also has a positive impact on the individual including their personal and professional development.

As a volunteer you have a right to:

As a volunteer you will be expected to:

•Be provided with a description of the volunteering role and what is expected of you •Be given meaningful work to do •To be offered appropriate training/introduction to the role •To confidentiality – your references and records will remain confidential •To receive supervision and support •To get something out of the work yourself as per your own aims and objectives •To know who to go to if a problem arises •To have concerns/questions dealt with promptly •To be given reasonable notice if there is a change of schedule •To make mistakes and learn from them •To be made aware of any disciplinary and grievance procedures •To be treated fairly, with dignity and respect and to have safe working conditions

•To obtain information about the volunteering project and role and to reflect on your motivations before making a commitment to volunteer •To be honest with your dealings with and organisation, particularly if you may not be suited for work with certain clients •As a representative of the volunteering project, to respect its values, aims, staff and clients •To carry out the prescribed volunteer duties to the best of your ability •To comply with relevant policies of the volunteer project. i.e.

Garda Vetting •To be punctual and reliable and give the organisation sufficient warning if unable to turn up •To attend essential training and support sessions •To provide constructive feedback to the volunteer project •To give advance notice if you intend to leave the project •To inform the volunteer project manager or supervisor if there is a problem

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Child protection Information and Garda Vetting

If your volunteer role includes working with children and young people, your volunteer project should have a tailored child protection policy which must be read and upheld at all times.

Such policies operate to protect the volunteer as well as the child. In most cases you will be requested to get Garda Vetted. This is done via the relevant organisation through the Garda Vetting Unit. Child Protection will be provided through the DIT Societies Office at the start of semester one. For further information contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie.

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Get involved!

Teri O’Boyle teri.oboyle@dit.ie Ph: (+353)(01) 402 4142