Happy New Year! 🎉
I hope 2026 has started well for you and your group.
As we begin the year, I wanted to share a few upcoming opportunities and invitations to get involved:
1. Feel Good Monday – Newry Library
We’re delighted to be hosting a Feel Good Monday event on 19th Jan 10-12noon at Newry Library, where there will be:
- Opportunities to take part in mobile volunteering via Oxfam jewellery labelling and The Kindness Postbox letters
- Access to a health check with the Verve Network and SHSCT
This is a great chance to support wellbeing while making a positive contribution in the community, so please share with your service users or anyone who might be interested. All welcome.
If you can share the details on social media here’s a link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/512877676041811/permalink/1807192966610269/
2. Family Volunteering Opportunities (Feb–Mar)
We are hoping to develop some family volunteering opportunities during February and March.
If your group or organisation has a task, project, or opportunity that parents and children could support together, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch to explore how we might work together.
3. Celebrate Amazing Volunteers through the Council Civic Awards – Nominations Open
Do you know an amazing volunteer who deserves recognition?
Nominations are now open across a range of categories, including:
Arts, Culture & Heritage, Fundraising, Community Pride, Human Endeavour, Volunteering, Youth Impact
The application process is straightforward, so get nominating and celebrate those making a real difference in your group or organisation.
Nomination info: Chairperson Launches Civic Awards 2026
4. Our New website has launched
Check it out here Volunteer Now – Promoting volunteering across Northern Ireland
Now the search for volunteering opportunities begins here Volunteering – Volunteer Now so check the roles you have listed are up to date. If you need support to recruit new volunteers, just get in touch.
Event volunteering is growing and events are even easier to find here Events Calendar & One-offs – Volunteer Now and the calendar is starting to fill up, so take a look and get in touch if your would like support to list your needs for event volunteers.
5. UN International Year of Volunteers 2026
The campaign will kick off by gaining a better understanding of volunteering and exploring the latest research on the landscape in Northern Ireland. Subsequent events will then examine the barriers to volunteering and how organisations can overcome these. The second half of the year will focus on neighbourliness and informal volunteering, and how organisations can help champion diversity and tackle underrepresentation in the volunteer network.
Thank you, as always, for the incredible work you do in the community.
Get in touch if we can support you or if you are interested in volunteering yourself.
Kind regards,
Raquel Rodrigues Keenan
Volunteering Development Officer
T: 028 9023 2020
M: 075 8511 0855
Get social with us … on Facebook: Volunteer.Now
Twitter: @VolunteerNow1 / @VNEnterprise and Instagram: @volunteer.now
