Down District Volunteer Centre

Volunteer Recognition Events

Christmas Celebration - A great time was had by all at our Christmas volunteer recognition party held in the Lodge, Castlewellan in December.  Staff and volunteers enjoyed music from young musicians of the Newcastle Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, singing from Michelle and Stacey and a great set of tunes from Ernie Gray.  We would like to thank all those who helped to make it such a great night - including those in the audience, the performers, food from Hillyard House and Paula and Nicholas from East Down Rural Community Network.

Volunteer's Week 2009

This year Down District Volunteer Centre organised a barbecue at the National Trust property of Castleward, Strangford to celebrate volunteering and to say thank you to all the volunteers who give so much time and energy to not for profit groups across the Down District.  As it was in June, the start of the summer, we were all prepared for rain or even snow, but the sun shone.  The barbecue (thanks to Anthony from Downe Residential Project) was great and volunteers were able, after a big feed, to go on a tour of the house or a walk organised by staff of the Strangford Lough Wildlife Reserve.  Some of us got to feed the baby goats and ducks.
This was the perfect opportunity to recognise the valiant volunteering from Down Community Transport volunteers and Court Witness volunteers.  Certificates were presented to volunteers from these organisations by Chairman of Down District Volunteer Centre, Jim McAfee.

 

Volunteer's Week 2008

Thank YOU
A big thank you to all volunteers for another tremendous year volunteering for organisations, groups and communities in Down.  A Government report estimates your contribution as worth over £2 millions to the local economy. 
On Wednesday 3 June there was a barbeque for nearly 70 volunteers in Castleward.  A great day was had by all and thanks especially to Down Community Transport for generous support. 

On Friday 5 June 10 volunteers participated in a guided walk of historic Downpatrick led by Linda McKenna from Down County Museum.  The walk focused on the administration of justice in Down and finished with a guided tour of the Court House on English Street, tea and scones.  Presentations of certificates were then made to a number of volunteers from the Court Witness Support Service run in association with Victim Support.
DDVC gratefully acknowledges the support of the National Trust, Down Community Transport, Down County Museum and the Downpatrick Court Service in organising these eventS

Time travelling has been said to be impossible to accomplish, but not for the volunteers of Down District Volunteer Centre! June 5th 2008 saw 33 volunteers of all ages, from all over Down, come together to recognise their commitment and celebrate their achievements as volunteers.
The group took a trip back in time to the Ulster American Folk Park in their top secret time machine to travel from Ulster to America in the 18th century. The day was packed - the volunteers travelled from Ulster to America on a ship and back again before lunch! (That's the volunteers of Down District Volunteer Centre for you!) They also journeyed through the old villages and shops, discovering that they had brought the wrong money with them and couldn't purchase anything! 

Leading the group through the old village with pride!	The volunteers enjoy the trip back in time.	Too many shops to choose from!
Sending letters home as they set sail for America!	Some of the passengers about to brave the long journey overseas!	Grab hold! The ship sets sail!

 The long journey tired our volunteers out, but luckily the staff of the volunteer centre were on hand to refresh the volunteers with sandwiches, crisps, chocolate, juice and fruit! They spoil us!

The staff take a much needed break after the safe return of their volunteers.

The famous volunteer sandwiches satisfy everyone's hunger after their long trip!

The staff provided too much food - we had to share!

 After lunch the volunteers spent time getting to know one another, and relaxing after a hard morning travelling.

 

Shortly after lunch the volunteers and staff got back in their time machine and travelled back to the 21st Century and back to the Volunteer Centre office, where all the volunteers received certificates to recognise all their achievements.
Both volunteers and staff had a fun-filled, educational day. The staff had an opportunity to say a big thank you to all the volunteers for all their hard work, dedication and commitment, and the volunteers had an opportunity to say thank you to the staff for looking after everyone so well. And the time machine was stored away in a top secret location for future expeditions through time!

Millennium Volunteer Award of Excellence
A group of young volunteers were invited to the Elmwood Hall, Belfast, to receive their Award of Excellence for completing 200 hours or more of volunteering.  

This picture shows Danielle, Lynne, Barbara, Ruarí, Kirsty and Ciara who received their awards from Education Minister Catriona Rúane. 

Anyone who is aged between 16 and 24 years of age, who wants to volunteer, or already volunteers in the community, if you want to know more go to the Millennium Volunteer section.

 

Schools Awards 2008
Down District Volunteer Centre held their annual Schools and Youth Awards on March 5th.  Trophies and prizes were presented to students who were able to attend by Down District Council Chairman Cllr Eddie Rea at the South Eastern Regional College's Careers Convention

The Awards were set up to recognise groups of young people and individuals who have shown an outstanding commitment to active citizenship and community activity.  Schools are also recognised for organising, encouraging and supporting voluntary activity both inside and outside school hours to the benefit of the local and wider community.

Down District Volunteer Centre were very pleased with the response from schools, for whole school, group/project and individual nominations.  DDVC feel that it is important that both schools and students be recognised for their, often quiet and tireless, work for their local and greater communities.  Pamela Grove-White of DDVC said “with students and teachers having so many other commitments it is great to see how much time and energy is given to voluntary and community work”.

Councillor Eddie Rea, Chairman of Down District Council said, “I am delighted to be here today to recognise and congratulate some exceptional local pupils, as part of the Down District Volunteer Centre annual schools awards.”

Perpetual Trophy for whole school involvement – Saintfield High School
Saintfield High School has consistently supported local and national charities and groups – including raising funds for Action MS and to adopt a child from Kenya as well as filling shoe boxes to go to Africa, collecting for poppy appeal, wings appeal, Macmillan Cancer and many more.  They have done this in a variety of ways, from sponsored walks to talent shows.
The community benefits from raising young people who can realise the importance of looking outward rather than always being self-concerned.  The volunteering which takes place is a whole team effort, with everyone pulling together to make a real difference.

Perpetual Trophy for group/class involvement – St Colman’s High School – years 13 and 14.
The students in these years have worked together to organise a number of fundraising and community support projects;
• Organising a coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Care; raising £380.
• Organising a senior citizen’s Christmas party for 40 elderly people.
• Collecting over 30 hampers for needy families in the local area.
• Supported charities with street collections
• Visit senior citizens in local care homes.

Runner up for group/class involvement –Assumption Grammar School
Year 8 students from the schoolcollected £3,400 for a sponsored walk to be presented to the Sisters of the Assumption to facilitate their mission work in Souht Africa.
A tradition of working to benefit other people is important in the Assumption and this is an excellent example of the local community taking responsibility for poorer people elsewhere.

Prize for individual – Katy McMillan; Saintfield High School
Katy has been taking part in voluntary activity for the past three years showing great commitment and enthusiasm; taking part in the Belfast Marathon fund run for three years to rais, cycled  30 Kilometres as well as participating in a 24 hour badminton event all to raise funds for local and national charities.

Runner up prize for individual – Francesca Carville – Assumption Grammar School
Francesca has been volunteering with Junior Gateway Club in Downpatrick for the past three years giving three hours every other week as well as a weekend over the summer supporting young people with disabilities with play and social activities.
Second runner up for individual volunteer - Katherine Turley for her volunteering over the past two years.

Special achievements
St Mary’s High School XL group collected money for a project which they will be taking part in and for the Downe Residential Project.

 

Pictures above show students from Saintfield High School, St. Colman's High School and St Mary's High School receiving their awards.

 

Christmas 2007

We celebrated the end of another successful year at DDVC by taking our volunteers to the magical Tudor cinema in Comber, where we had a private Christmas party and a screening of 'Miracle on 34th Street'.  Many thanks to Roy Spence for the use of his cinema, and for his warm hospitality!

  

Recognising Older Volunteers

Down District  Volunteer Centre took an opportunity to recognise the commitment and input of volunteers over 50 years of age. The event was organised in partnership with Age Concern NI and the Down District Council and supported by East Down Rural Community Network. Nominations were sent out to all volunteers and organisations on our data base and also distributed through Age Concern and EDRCN.
Following this we received 18 individual nominations, 12 group nominations as well as 3 placement organisations.
As the independent judges found it hard to choose the winner from each category “Each nomination told a story, all of them deserving, and in our eyes, all of them winners.  The very nature of the Awards meant that we were making a judgement on volunteer effort we have only been able to read about, but your warmth, your care and commitment to many causes was clearly evident.” (Fidelma Glass, Judge).
All the volunteers and organisations nominated received certificates and the winners awarded prizes at an evening event held at the St Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick on Tuesday 15th May.  Down District Volunteer Centre was very pleased to be able to recognise the years of volunteering within the district and care and commitment shown by these volunteers and groups, who are often the unsung heroes.
Antje Otto, Project Officer at the DDVC, who co-ordinated the event would like to thank all those who helped her to organise the recognition event, particularly Maura McClean from Age Concern NI, as well as Down District Council and East Down Rural Community Network. A big “Thank you” also to all volunteer entertainers and to all local businesses for donations.

 

 

Millennium Volunteers Awards of Excellence
Several volunteers took Pamela and Janine up to Belfast City Hall to receive their well deserved Millennium Volunteer’s Award of Excellence for having completed 200 or more hours of volunteering.  Congratulations and thanks for all the work and time given and for being such good ambassadors of youth volunteering. 

These volunteers have given their hours to a number of local groups; charity shops - with volunteers helping to serve customers, opening and closing the shop and liaising with Head Office - also Scout groups; without volunteers these groups would not run, one volunteer has been an assistant cub leader organising games and activities, planning weekend events and taking part in weekend activities, another volunteer has gained in confidence and skills through volunteering in a holiday home for children with cancer, another volunteer has given time and energy to help with the senior citizens lunches twice a week at the Vincent’s Centre, while another volunteer has given time at Tools for Solidarity and Youth for Christ, as well as those volunteers who joined the Youth Forum and helped out with a variety of volunteering projects throughout the year.
The Award of Excellence is a nationally recognised award, useful to keep as part of your record of achievement, to show others (employers, or mention in college applications) and to remind you of the fun and satisfaction of volunteering.

 

 

Schools, Youth and Community Volunteering Awards.

Each year voluntary and community groups are asked to nominate volunteers for a special recognition, especially young volunteers to raise awareness of the amount of time and energy given by young volunteers in the Down District.  Schools and individuals are also invited to nominate people for these awards. 

In 2006 the School, Youth and Community Award was celebrated during Down District Volunteer Centre's Annual General Meeting, held at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcatle.  This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the commitment of these volunteers as well as all the volunteers registered with the Down District Volunteer Centre who give so much of their time to the community.

---