Christmas Robin Workshop
On the 19th and 26th October between 10am and 1pm some Ukrainian Volunteers living in Kildare will be meeting here at Kildare Community Development Centre to make some Robin Christmas decorations. These hand made Robins will then be donated to Kildare Wildlife Rescue for them to sell in the lead up to Christmas to raise vital funds for a great local charity.
The workshops are open to everybody from every background and are completely free. They are a teaching workshop, so if you would like to learn this skill, make some new friends and help a local charity you are more than welcome to come along and get involved. You can contact Ivanna on Ivanna@volunteerkildare.ie to register. It’s okay to come to one or both workshops!
The Christmas Robin is the idea of Tetiana Husieva who had this to say about her inspiration for this
“I generally like to create things that make the person who receives them feel warm and smile. And when you hold a bird in your hands, tenderness and a sense of unity awaken in your soul, because both the bird and our soul can fly, albeit in different ways. I chose the colors for the birds so that they were native to both Ukrainians and Irish. Somehow. We want people to believe in the best, which came to us even in such cute little things.”
Become a part of Kildare’s Community Volunteers
Kildare Community Volunteers is a programme where the roles are short term and ad hoc, allowing you to volunteer in a way that both suits your lifestyle and benefits your community.
You will get a chance to volunteer in unique once of community events. Some of the recent events our Community Volunteers have been involved in Brigid1500 events, Junefest in Newbridge and Bealtaine Festival.
You will undertake unique volunteer training with Kildare Volunteer Centre and become a part of our team. You can get involved as often or as little as you like, when it suits your schedule. You do not have to commit to specific hours every week, they are once off events.
Becoming a Community Volunteer is a great opportunity to get involved in your community and become a part of a core team of volunteers in Kildare. It’s a chance to learn about your local area, meet new people and develop new skills.
For more information about becoming a community volunteer email our Community Volunteer Coordinator John at John@volunteerkildare.ie or call on 0868646698
Kildare Volunteer Centre Awards Night 2023
Kildare Volunteer Centre hosted a special awards event in March 2023 at the Council Chambers in Aras Chill Dara. The event was to celebrate and mark the huge work of volunteers across Co. Kildare in the past year. Cathaoirleach Fintan Brett was there to thank the volunteers for their selfless dedication to the community and to present the awards.Manager David Hand who marked one year as Centre Manager acted as MC for the night, and described the work of each of the volunteers who were nominated for awards, and what their impact has been for their peers and community. Tributes were read out to those nominated and to their families who support them to keep going.The Awards were presented to:Volunteer Involving Organisation of the Year – North Kildare (Leixlip) Arch ClubVolunteer of the Year – Bernie Morley (Red Cross)Volunteer Led Response – Maynooth University, in partnership with Helping Irish Hosts, Irish Red Cross and Kildare Community VolunteersCommunity Volunteer of the Year – Joint Award to Arthur Voigh and Terry CoyneA special award was presented to Victor Purcell on the night to mark his 10 year anniversary with Kildare Volunteer Centre as a volunteer office team member. Victor also volunteers with the Moat Theatre and Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival and it was a well deserved award to mark his contribution to the community.The event was hosted in partnership with Kildare County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development
Kildare Volunteer Centre Awards
Kildare Social Inclusion Week 2024
Kildare Volunteer Centre was delighted to take play a part in Kildare Social Inclusion Week 2024. Volunteering is a fantastic way to participate and feel connected to your local community. When you volunteer and give your time to something you feel passionate about you meet like minded people and make new friends. Volunteering is something that everybody can get involved in. Regardless of age, nationality, ethnicity or any health issues there is a volunteering opportunity out there for you. Get in touch and we can help you start on your volunteering journey
Covid-19 Volunteer Recognition
Regional events took place all over Ireland last Summer to acknowledge the contribution of local volunteers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kildare volunteers turned out in force for a memorable evening of music and celebration at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge.
Four groups awards were presented (Punchestown Vaccination and Test Centre Volunteers, Naas Order of Malta, Athy Community Spirit and Naas Food Bank) along with 17 individual awards across a wide range of community and voluntary groups.
Award winners received a personal letter of thanks from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and a unique commemorative badge.
Our sincere thanks to everyone who organised, attended and participated in this very special event. It was wonderful to be in a room with all of you again to share stories and mutual respect. We hope you enjoyed your evening. You deserve all of this and so much more
This event was funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and held in partnership with Volunteer Ireland and Kildare Volunteer Centre.
Ukrainian National Day
In August we got to spend time with some of our fantastic volunteers supporting our friends in CKLP in hosting a special event for 800 plus Ukrainians in accommodation in Maynooth University to celebrate their National Day.
Just some of the wonderful activities on offer were kite making, face-painting, music, art and dance workshops, sports games, crafting workshops, open mic sessions. There was also a circus performance, an ice cream van and a on-site burger van.
Our wonderful volunteers were on site to help facilitate all these activities and greet all the Ukrainian residents with a warm smile on what was a very emotional day for them. It was fantastic to see volunteers demonstrating the local community support for everybody from Ukraine.
If you would like to join our panel of community volunteers and volunteer at events like this please click here..
A big congratulations to CKLP on a wonderful event
People of Kildare asked to nominate Ireland’s Volunteer of the Year
Nominations are now open for the 2022 Volunteer Ireland Awards and the public is being asked to submit nominations for Ireland’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’. The Volunteer Ireland Awards take place annually and celebrate the immense contribution volunteers make to communities across Ireland. Visit www.volunteer.ie to nominate a volunteer for a Volunteer Ireland Award.
Kildare Volunteer Centre Manager, David Hand, said: “These awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary kindness and generosity of Kildare’s volunteers. As we emerge from a pandemic during which volunteers provided crucial supports, volunteers are once again selflessly stepping forward, this time in welcoming and supporting displaced Ukrainian people in communities across Ireland.
“But it’s not just in times of crisis that Kildare’ volunteers make such an outstanding impact. All year round, volunteers are the beating hearts of our community – caring for animals and the environment, helping with sports and cultural events, and supporting the wellbeing of others. The Volunteer Ireland Awards give us a chance to say thank you by celebrating the invaluable contribution volunteers make to Irish society.”
The 2022 Volunteer Ireland Awards are made possible thanks to the support of the Department of Rural and Community Development, and award partners Healthy Ireland.
This year’s Volunteer Ireland Awards will take place in Dublin in December.