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[ Home » What We Do » Campaigns Vw Activities.php ]

Volunteers' Week Activities

Volunteers Rock at VSB!

North Down Borough Council, on behalf of North Down & Ards Volunteer Centre hosted a 'Rock Event' on 3 June as part of their Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) Day. Volunteers had breakfast at the Heritage Centre, followed by a motivational speech from Gerry Faloona.

 

Over one hundred employees embarked on a variety of special volunteering projects. Examples include employees from Northgate Information Solutions volunteering with Assisi Animal Sanctuary, employees from the Department for Social Development volunteering at Mount Stewart and employees from the Big Lottery volunteering with Ganaway Centre.

VSB also held a celebration event for 120 older volunteers from Belfast at Farset International Hotel, where they had their own 'Can't Cook Won't Cook' competition with Nuala McKeever (Patron of VSB) and Alan Simpson (Radio Ulster).

 

Hope Centre Ballymena

On 3 June the Hope Centre held a pampering evening for their volunteers. Therapies available on the evening included Hopi Ear Candling, Head Massage, Nail Painting and Facials. Special guest at the event was Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie.

 

 

Northern Ireland Centre for Entrepreneurship (NICENT)

NICENT organised a 'Inspirational Social Enterprise' event on 5 June at the University of Ulster to celebrate Volunteers' Week. Key note speaker at the event was Peter Ferris MBE who holds an Irish record for having completed 311 marathons. Peter recalled his motivation for becoming involved in social enterprise activity and how it has turned into a world record breaking attempt to fundraise and a lifelong commitment to Cancer charities.

 

Also speaking at the event was David Fitzsimons from the Volunteer Development Agency who showcased an exciting range of volunteering opportunities to engage the University of Ulster's staff and students.

Speaking at the event, coordinator Dr Cecilia Hegarty said, 'Social enterprise however it is interpreted can enrich one's own personal life. There is an ongoing need for more people to volunteer their time, talents and expertise.'

Newry & Mourne Volunteer Centre
Newry and Mourne Volunteer Centre had a multicultural night of fun and entertainment to celebrate Volunteers’ Week. Local volunteers joined with volunteers from the UK, Ireland and Kenya who have been working side by side in projects locally for the past three months. St Paul’s High School provided the first piece of music with their African Drum Group.  Next was a presentation by the GX Volunteers about their placements and a short drama about being part of the GX experience.  This was followed by a world class Irish Dancing display, after which everyone joined together in Ceilidh Dancing. After all that activity volunteers then ‘chilled out’ to the mellow sound of two young local Millennium Volunteers who rounded of the evening.

While around 250 volunteers had a wonderful night it was slightly tinged with sadness as it was also the Global Exchange Volunteers Community Farewell, but they could not have left on a better note and we hope their Kenyan experience is as exciting and rewarding as their stay in Newry and Mourne.