Dedicating a few hours off your day can go a long way, especially if you are doing volunteer work around your area.
Volunteering can be daunting at first, especially when you are looking for a program or place to start your journey. You can gain several personal advantages from volunteering, such as a sense of wellbeing and the ability to fortify ties within your community.
If you’re looking for a volunteer program here in Dublin but are having a hard time finding one, we’re here to help. We’ve listed out some of the best ones out there, so you can start your volunteering journey ASAP!
Best Volunteer Programs in Dublin
Giving to the community, regardless of the cause you support, can make you feel good on the inside. To help you select the volunteer program that suits you the best, we have created a list of relevant factors.
1. Dublin City Volunteer Centre
| Range of support | ★★★★★ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Reputation | ★★★★★ |
| Transparency | ★★★★★ |
| Experience | ★★★★☆ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
The city’s very own hub for volunteer programs, Dublin City Volunteer Centre is where both volunteer programs and individuals meet to serve the people.
The Dublin City Volunteer Centre and its mission is to promote the values of volunteering and increase the range and quality of volunteering in the city. The centre aims to connect people in the community through active participation in volunteering activities.
The centre caters and fosters different organizations and helps them to find interested volunteers to be active in different causes. Through the centre, they actively promote and support organizations in need for volunteers where different communities can partake.
Aside from their mission and vision in promoting volunteerism, Dublin City Volunteer Centre also promotes social inclusion through cooperation and promoting of social responsibility and active citizenship.
If you are planning to volunteer at the centre or look for organizations that cater to your interests, you are presented with many options which makes this item on our list one of the best.
Although it must be noted that the centre is swarmed with organizations in line with processes, that’s why you should expect long waiting times when applying.
At Dublin City Volunteer Centre, you can find the perfect volunteer program that will suit your interests and heart to volunteer your precious time and energy in.
Pros
- Has a broad range of organizations and programs
- Dedicated to provide service through volunteerism
Cons
- No operation on Sunday
- Long queue lines due to large volume of organizations
Customer Reviews
Warm place
“A very good place, warm reception especially the lady named Franzi” – Setlhomo Tshwanelang, Google Review
Excellent service!
“Prepared and friendly staff.” – Chiara Tamborini, Google Review
2. Fingal Volunteer Centre
| Range of support | ★★★★★ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ |
| Transparency | ★★★★☆ |
| Experience | ★★★★☆ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
Fingal Volunteer Centre is a central hub for organizations and volunteers to look for the perfect synergy to work on their own causes!
Fingal is where different organizations come together to look for volunteers. The different organizations cater to different causes which makes Fingal an integral institution to connect people to different volunteering programs.
Fingal Volunteer Centre provides a registration program for interested organizations to be listed on their partnered orgs for posting of volunteer roles and outsourcing to widen their audience reach and find more interested individuals.
What we love about Fingal Volunteer Centre is that they hold events for their partnered organizations and programs to celebrate volunteerism and relevant campaigns. Volunteers come together and hold programs to further their service in their causes.
One of their biggest events is The Fingal Virtual Volunteer Expo where different affiliate organizations develop programs and their volunteers. Events are coordinated by Fingal where organizations and their volunteers can take part.
Fingal could improve its services if it can attract more affiliate organizations to broaden the program and services that interested volunteers can apply to.
Overall, Fingal Volunteer Centre is an essential hub for volunteers to look for organizations that suit their interests.
Pros
- Holds events for affiliates and volunteers
- Accessible registration program for organizatons
Cons
- Limited programs and organizations
- Short operating hours
Customer Reviews
Highly Recommended!
“Fingal Volunteer Centre is where I found the perfect program for me to volunteer into! Highly recommended!” – Justin Whyte
Helpful team!
“Really appreciate the work, really helpful team. I would highly recommend Fingal!” – Andrew Provins
3. Volunteer Ireland
| Range of support | ★★★★★ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ |
| Transparency | ★★★★☆ |
| Experience | ★★★★☆ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
Volunteer Ireland is a team formed through volunteerism where they envision bringing additional skills and new perspectives through community involvement.
At Volunteer Ireland, interested volunteers are immersed in different areas of work which includes events, corporate volunteering, administrations, communication, and others. These roles enable volunteers to choose what field they specialize in.
Volunteer Ireland believes in diversity and social inclusion where they create opportunities for volunteers without discrimination. They help fully develop the potential of volunteers while they work for various causes and projects.
They offer a registration program for interested organizations to be featured on their partnered orgs. This helps promote volunteer opportunities to broaden their audience reach and attract more interested people.
For affiliate organizations, they can advertise specific programs and volunteer roles for interested individuals to apply as volunteers.
Aside from their regular operations in volunteer posting and finding, they regularly publish volunteer stories through their portal to share stories and inspire others. They also provide regular training and hold special events depending on the season.
Although training and events do not come regularly. It would have been better if they could create regular training for volunteers to amplify their skills in their programs.
Volunteer Ireland is a prime example as a center to find people and work together towards a certain goal.
Pros
- Open for affiliates and volunteering options
- Active advertising for volunteering roles
Cons
- Trainings are limited
- Events are hard to come by
Customer Reviews
Consistently honest and reliable
“Volunteer Ireland is honest in placing me in an organization that aligns with my interests. I commend their work in pushing for volunteerism.” – Javier Jave
Top-notch investigations
“A great sound place to improve individual skills.” – Lawrence Carvalho, Google Review
4. Voluntary Service International
| Range of support | ★★★★☆ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★★ |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ |
| Transparency | ★★★★☆ |
| Experience | ★★★★★ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
Voluntary Service International is a body that promotes peace and social justice through volunteering avenues where people sign up and work with different projects.
Started as a worldwide peace movement after the FIrst World War, Voluntary Service International was founded in 1965 where its headquarters is located in Dublin.
What we love about Voluntary Service International is their thrust for peace, solidarity, social justice, sustainable development, and intercultural understanding through coordination of volunteering projects internationally and in Ireland.
VSI also holds non-formal educational activities and events where volunteers actively partake in roles to promote the movement’s mission and vision.
Although it must be noted that at VSI there are membership fees where volunteers pay. The schemes can be paid annually or lifetime membership. Collected fees are used in supporting various programs and projects that are spearheaded by VSI.
Members have the opportunity to be immersed in different webinars and training, which includes volunteering opportunities internationally.
Volunteers are placed in different endeavors and projects held by VSI and the Service Civil International where they develop skills and learn more about the societies that they immerse in.
Overall, VSI has a long-standing history in promoting peace through volunteerism which makes it a perfect program to volunteer in.
Pros
- Provides volunteering endeavors in Ireland and international
- Provides webinars and trainings for member volunteers
Cons
- Collects membership fee
- Projects can be competitive for applying as volunteer
Customer Reviews
Professional and thorough
“Great organization to help you to help others!” – Michael Cafferkey, Google Review
Hands-on.
“They are experienced, and hands-on in placing volunteers in different important projects.” – Rebecca Keis
5. Enable Ireland
| Range of support | ★★★★☆ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ |
| Transparency | ★★★★☆ |
| Experience | ★★★★★ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
Children, adults, and their families with disabilities are offered free services by Enable Ireland in a number of venues across the nation.
Volunteers are placed in different areas to support the charity’s function in providing support and services for families with disabilities.
Its goal is to offer programs that improve the lives of local adults and children. Enable Ireland offers these in particular to help individuals it supports achieve independence while keeping in touch with friends, family, and peers.
Enable Ireland helps kids and adults develop in all facets of their physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development with the use of their research-based programs.
They even presently have specialized teams who collaborate with the people and their families to develop personalized plans for each stage of their lives. Additionally, a number of resources are available on their website at no cost to those who need them the most.
Volunteers take first hand experience in learning from families which is a worthwhile endeavor that people can partake in.
However, their customer service isn’t the best. Because Enable Ireland’s office hours are not listed on their website, it has happened more than once that donors arrived to find the offices closed.
Enable Ireland is a great program to learn while providing help to families with disabilities through active participation and volunteerism.
Pros
- Offers hands-on experience for volunteers
- Provides services for families with difficulties
Cons
- No operating times on their website
- Office is far from the center of Dublin
Customer Reviews
Great group that helps so many others
“Great group of people who help so many others. Right across the disabled community. Leaders in assistive technology for people with disabilities. They do so much its impossible to list in a review.” – Gary Kearney
Hugely positive experience
“Volunteering with Enable Ireland has been and still is a hugely positive experience and one that never ceases to be rewarding.” – Geraldine