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!
Each organisation will be looking for different skills and abilities from their volunteers, but here are some general requirements that apply to most volunteer opportunities in Ireland:
To work/volunteer with children and vulnerable adults in Ireland, you will need to be Garda vetted (criminal background check). The organisation will send you the Garda vetting form to fill in and you will then have to send it back to them along with proof of identity.
Most organisations will ask for at least two of the following: a passport, a driving licence, proof of address or other reliable identification. They will then submit it to the Gardaí on your behalf and you should receive an e-vetting invite via email within a few weeks at the most. You will need to be Garda vetted for each organisation you volunteer with in Ireland.
Information sourced from spunout.ie. More information
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.
National Volunteering Database – database of volunteering opportunities in Ireland.
Active Link (an online network for community and non-profit organisations in Ireland) – volunteering opportunities in the charity and not-for-profit sector in Ireland.
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. More information
If you would like to volunteer in the youth work area, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) provides information on volunteering opportunities, what a prospective volunteer can expect, and what will be expected of volunteers. Get support, advice, research, and a wealth of free downloadable resources! More information
There are opportunities to volunteer in exchange for accommodation, food and some ‘pocket money’. Opportunities include:
WorkAway – More information
HelpX – More information
WWOOF Ireland – live and work on organic farms. More information
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.
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Erasmus+ is managed in Ireland by Léargas and the Higher Education Authority.
