Down District Volunteer Centre

News & Events

Join In, Get Involved: Build a Better Future
The Department for Social Development is currently consulting on its plans for a Volunteering Strategy to support and encourage volunteering in Northern Ireland.  It wants to hear your views on how best this can be done.  You can take part in the consultation by a variety of methods.  Follow the following link for more information. www.dsdni.gov.uk/consultations-join-in-get-involved.htm

Fields of Hope in Downpatrick - Groups got together to help plant 10,000 daffodils to create two Fields of Hope for Marie Curie.  One field was in Marion Park in Downpatrick the other was in the new Downe Hospital where we were joined by some Marie Curie nurses.

Training and Schools and Youth Community Awards

The DDVC’s Training and School’s Award was held in Downpatrick on Wednesday 29th April 2009.  Certificates and prizes were presented by the Chairman of Down District Council Cllr Colin McGrath.  The event celebrated the achievements of those volunteers and managers of volunteers who took part in training courses with DDVC over the past year. The Awards also recognised the commitment and personal development of young volunteers through the DDVC's Schools and Youth Community Awards.

Prizes Awarded
Best School for promoting volunteering in the community
Blackwater Integrated College
Best School Group – volunteering project
St Colman’s High School 6th Form

Individual Volunteer Awards  Best Volunteer - Runner up– Conor Poland
Commitment to volunteering. – Clare Fitzpatrick
Special Commendation – Ryan Bogues
Best Individual. – Francesca Carville

Ministerial Visit  The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA, presented the staff of Down District Volunteer Centre with an Investing in Volunteers Award.  The event took place in Downpatrick on Friday 28 November 2008. 

Handing over the prestigious award the Minister said,
“I am delighted to present the Investing in Volunteers award to my local volunteer centre here in Downpatrick.  This award shows just how much Down District Volunteer Centre values its volunteers.  Volunteering is about much more than helping out.  It changes lives.  It enables people to fulfil their potential.”

The St Patrick’s Avenue centre is only the second volunteer centre in Northern Ireland to achieve Investing in Volunteers status. 
 

Latest Newsletter
Check out our latest newsletter featuring new opportunities, news and information about everything happening in Down District.  Click here to open

Talking about volunteering  The BBC Community Bus project is looking for "volunteer's stories" for their website.
 Have you been volunteering for a while and have a transformational story to tell?
 Would you be happy to be recorded and/or filmed for featuring on the website?  If yes, contact staff at Down District Volunteer Centre.

Volunteer Management Training
If you work or volunteer with a group that involves volunteers in its work, you'll know how important their contribution is. For many groups, volunteers are the biggest - sometimes the only - resource they have.  But is your group getting the most from its volunteers? Like any resource, volunteers need to be managed effectively to get the best from them.  Click here to find out about our upcoming training courses in volunteer management.