KWWSPCA needs more volunteers

The Kildare & West Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (KWWSPCA) is appealing for more volunteers to help care for rescue dogs at its shelter near Athgarvan in Co Kildare. 

The charity, which is run entirely by volunteers and has no paid staff, says it urgently needs dependable individuals to assist with daily dog care, including walking, feeding, cleaning kennels, and general shelter duties. 

Volunteers need to be hardworking, dog-confident, over 21, fit, have no relevant physical impairments, and can travel to the shelter independently, as public transport is not available. Regular availability for either a morning shift (7.30am–1pm) or an afternoon shift (1pm–6pm, earlier in winter) is particularly required.

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to complete the online application form or email kwwspca@gmail.com for more information.

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Scouts seek adult helpers

The Kilcullen Scout Troop is seeking adults in the community to join as Adult Scouters, Rover Leaders, or Parents & Friends Committee Members.  Whether you’re a former Scout, an experienced outdoor enthusiast or simply eager to learn, the troop offers comprehensive training and welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds and skill levels.

The troop caters to five sections: Beavers: Ages 6-8, Cubs: Ages 9-11, Scouts: Ages 12-15, Ventures: Ages 15-17, and Rovers: Ages 18-26

If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact kilcullenscouts@gmail.com.

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Barretstown seeks volunteers for autumn season

The Barretstown camp for seriously ill children is seeking volunteers for the autumn season. 

The volunteers play a vital role in helping children living with cancer and other serious illnesses rediscover joy, confidence, and connection through the organisation's therapeutic programmes. 

To become a volunteer, known as Caras, you need to be aged 19 or over. Full details are available here. 

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Nominate a volunteer for national awards

Nominations are now open for the Volunteer Ireland Awards 2025, writes Brian Byrne. The closing date for nominations is Friday, 10 October. 

The awards aim to recognise the outstanding contributions of volunteers across the country. They are organised by Volunteer Ireland.

Every volunteer is eligible, no matter how long they've volunteered or what type of volunteering they do. All nominees will receive a thank-you card in the post to show our appreciation of their efforts.

Nominations can be submitted at this link.

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Public consultation on community and volunteering

A reminder that the deadline is approaching for submissions on a public consultation on developing a new strategy to support Ireland's community and voluntary sector, writes Brian Byrne. The strategy will run from 2026 to 2030, and anyone can make a submission using this link. The closing date for submissions is 15 August 2025.

The strategy will set a general direction for government policy on community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the coming decade.

The new plan will replace Community and Voluntary sector: Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities 2019-2024.

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Scouts appeal for volunteers

The Kilcullen Scout Troop is appealing for volunteers to help with their scouting activities for Kilcullen's young people, writes Brian Byrne. The 9th Kildare group offers exciting activities and learning experiences for Youth Members ages 6-18 and Adult Scouters ages 18+.

The troop is now in its 47th year. Apart from their scouting activities, members of the group give back to the community in many ways — for instance, they were at the forefront of the recent Kilcullen Cleanup Day organised by Kilcullen Community Action. They also host parties for Kilcullen's seniors, and have raised funds for many good causes, including Relay for Life Kildare.

In 2013, under the direction of then Venture scout Emma Birchall — a Cub of the Year in 2006 — they organised Kilcullen's first St Patrick's Day Parade.

Call the troop's development officer Jemma at 087 6990304 if you can help or email jwalsh@scouts.ie.

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Barretstown Volunteer Open Day on Sunday

Image: Barretstown.

A reminder that Barretstown, which runs camps for seriously ill children near Ballymore, is holding a Volunteer Open Day next Sunday 10 September.

The day is for anyone who would like to learn more about helping to rebuild the lives of children affected by serious illness and their families. 

The event runs from 2.15pm and promises fun as well as information.

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Charities seek volunteers

Two charities with strong County Kildare connections are seeking volunteers to help them help others, writes Brian Byrne.

Barretstown, which runs camps for seriously ill children near Ballymore, is holding a Volunteer Open Day on Sunday 10 September for anyone who would like to learn more about helping to rebuild the lives of children affected by serious illness and their families. The event runs from 2.15pm on the day and promises fun as well as information.

And the Camphill organisation, which has three long-established communities in the locality for people with intellectual disability, is also looking for short term volunteers for its work. The minimum age here is 18 and volunteers are asked to sign up for a minimum of one year, with a promise of opportunities for self-development, new friendships, and life experiences. Information on camphill.ie. 

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O'Brien Fine Foods helped out at Dunshane

It was corporate volunteers day in Dunshane Camphill yesterday with members of staff from O'Brien Fine Foods helping out, writes Brian Byrne.

They got stuck in on gardening, painting, and helped to lay stones in the car park.

All was very much appreciated by the Dunshane community. (Photos: Dunshane Camphill.)

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Food company volunteers helping Camphill The Bridge

A group of people from O'Brien Fine Foods helped out at Camphill The Bridge last Thursday, tidying up the outdoor spaces and painting outdoor furniture, writes Brian Byrne. They were doing a corporate volunteer day at the community, and will be on a similar day at Camphill Dunshane on 18 May.

Initially up to 15 people were to be involved, but a large order coming in for the company trimmed the volunteer force down for last week. Last October, a group from the company carried out major work on the Bridge nature trail in advance of it being reopened to the public on 1 November, after a long closure due to the pandemic. 

Paul Henry, social enterprise manager with the national Camphill organisation, said the work of the volunteers has been a 'fantastic' help in getting the nature trail back in action. "The trail has been busy," he told the Diary. "Any time you go there, there are people walking." 

Pictured are Alan Coleman, Nick Reynolds, Niall Coogan, and Jolyta Rusekietie. Based in Timahoe, O'Brien Fine Foods is a family run company specialising in producing and marketing high-end meat brands which include Brady Family Ham, Green Farm turkey and ham, Homebird poultry, and Bearfields cooked ham and gammon.

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AFC appeal for helpers

A call for volunteers to become actively involved in all areas of the club has been issued by Kilcullen AFC.

They're asking parents, family members and others to help out on match days, training, and especially at Committee level.

The club says a couple of hours a week would make a real difference, especially to the lives of the younger players.

Anyone willing to help can speak to any Manager or Committee Member or PM the club on its social media 

Full training will be provided for coaching and administration roles around the club.

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Trades skills sought for GAA revamp weekend

Kilcullen GAA is holding a Clubhouse Revamp Weekend on 16-18 September and is seeking volunteer help from anyone with specialist trade skills.

In particular they're issuing a shout-out for Plumbers, Builders, Electricians, Carpenters, Tilers, and Painters.

Sponsorship for materials is also sought, such as paint and tiles.

And if any business can help by providing refreshments for the volunteers over the weekend, that would also be welcomed.

Contact Barry on 087 4181817 if you want to help.

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Training programme for advocates for a better world

Image: Development Perspectives.

An opportunity for people to train as sustainable development advocates for Saolta, a programme for Adult and Community Education aimed at empowering people for a better world, is now open to applicants, writes Brian Byrne.

Saolta is organised by Development Perspectives,  an independent NGO involved in development education, headquartered in Drogheda, Co Louth. The organisation partners with groups both in Ireland and other parts of the world in pursuit of its objectives.

The Saolta initiative is in association with AONTAS, Concern Worldwide, Irish Rural Link and the Adult and Community Education Department of Maynooth University. Participants will explore a variety of global sustainable development goal (SDG) issues with stakeholders, along with encouraging action across Irish society. Poverty, inequality and climate change will feature strongly as areas of engagement.

The SDG Advocate Training 2021 programme will be limited to 21 participants, who will undertake a series of online, group, and residential training events through 2021, coronavirus restrictions permitting.

An information pack can be accessed here, while the application form is here. If you want to get a feel for the initiative, there's a short Youtube programme that can be viewed here. 

ED NOTE: Food for thought ... out of 18 Advocates in 2020, just four were men.

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Volunteering award for CPC students

Transition Year students at Cross and Passion College have been awarded the Localise Youth Volunteering Award in recognition of the volunteering they are and have been involved with, writes Brian Byrne.

"We have a very strong community spirit," says Glenda Groome, TY Year Coordinator. "We have created awareness of and fundraised for The Irish Cancer Society. In addition to awareness raising and fundraising for Heart Children Ireland, Elaine Birchall and her grandmother, along with the knitters of Kilcullen, have been leading our knitting initiative to make the very much appreciated Comfort Teddy bears for children recovering from heart surgery. They have knitted over 100 teddy bears so far!"

Other activities recognised in the award are Halloween Parties for the KARE community clients, 121 Digital teaching older people in the community to use their digital devices, Intergenerational Coffee Mornings, and a CPC Temple Street Bake Off and more.

File photo: Mick Maher availing of the 121digital initiative in 2015.

CPC TY students have been continuing to contribute to their communities during the coronavirus situation. "James Ryan, one of our TY students, has been delivering food and other necessary supplies to people who are cocooning."

Localise youth volunteering challenges young people to come together and make a difference in their local community by being of service to others. Localise has its origins in 1972 in Ballyfermot, Dublin. A group of young people came together to work on a specific need. Later, as Peace Corps, it expanded through the city and then nationwide.

A post-primary schools programme was set up in 2007, involving classroom work with community needs. In 2014 that was expanded to primary schools. Today there are Localise programmes in 35 schools and communities, and there is a waiting list of schools and communities who want to engage with the movement.