Louth Public invited to nominate local volunteers for national awards
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Volunteer Ireland Awards. The Louth public is being invited to nominate volunteers in their local community across 11 categories, with one volunteer being named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year at the ceremony in December. The awards take place annually and celebrate the immense contribution volunteers make to communities across Ireland. Nominations can be made now at www.volunteer.ie/nominate.
Louth Volunteer Centre Manager Kayleigh Mulligan said: “Louth has a strong community spirit and people volunteer in large numbers. We have a proud history of Louth volunteers being selected as finalists in various categories and have had a few deserving winners over the years. It is important that the commitment of local volunteers is recognised and rewarded, so we would strongly encourage the public to nominate someone that makes a difference in the local community.”
Aside from the awards handed out on the night, every single volunteer that is nominated will receive a special thank you card from Volunteer Ireland.
Louth’s very own volunteers Michael Butler, Freda Carville and Colleen Hardy, made the national shortlist in 2023 in the Arts, Culture & Festivals categories so it would be wonderful if the wee county could be so well represented again this year!
About the Volunteer Ireland Awards
Anyone can nominate a volunteer, and the 11 categories are:
- Arts, Culture & Festivals
- Campaigning & Activism
- Children & Youth
- Environmental & Animal Care
- Health & Wellbeing
- Safety & Emergency Services
- Social Inclusion & Community Support
- Sports & Recreation
- Small group (3-19 volunteers)
- Large group (20+ volunteers)
- Volunteer Manager
All individual awardees (except Volunteer Manager) are eligible for the overall Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year Award. Nominations close at midnight on 11 October and can be made online at www.volunteer.ie/nominate.
About Louth Volunteer Centre
Louth Volunteer Centre brings Co. Louth together by offering equal opportunities to all sections of the community to participate in meaningful voluntary activity. Louth Volunteer Centre provides a placement service between individuals and groups who want to undertake voluntary activity and organisations that are seeking to involve volunteers. They match individuals and groups interested in volunteering with appropriate opportunities. They offer advice and support to both volunteers and organisations through a range of services including information, consultation, training and Garda Vetting.
They believe passionately in the value and benefits of volunteering for all: the individual, the organisation and wider society. Volunteers contribute to community development, active citizenship and social capital.
Louth Volunteer Centre recently marked its 20th Anniversary with an exhibition and launch in the Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda. The event was attended by Minister Heather Humphries, the team and board of Louth Volunteer Centre and a range of stakeholders from the community in Louth.
This year’s Volunteer Ireland Awards will take place in Dublin on 8th December. The awards are made possible thanks to the support of the Department of Rural and Community Development, and award partners Healthy Ireland.
About Volunteer Ireland
Volunteer Ireland is the national volunteer development organisation and a support body for all local Volunteer Centres in Ireland. Our vision is an Ireland where volunteering thrives. Our mission is to promote, support and advocate for excellent, accessible and inclusive volunteering. For further information, visit: http://www.volunteer.ie/.
Contact
Drogheda
Bolton Street, Drogheda A92DKR0 (Mon – Fri 9.30am – 5pm)
Dundalk
County Hall, Alphonsus Rd, Dundalk – By appointment (Mon, Wed & Thurs 9.30am – 5pm)
Ardee
Ardee Library, Market Street, Ardee – By appointment (Thurs 10am – 2pm)