Volunteer Centres provide a placement service between individuals and groups who want to undertake voluntary activity and organisations that are seeking to involve volunteers. Their primary function is to match individuals and groups interested in volunteering with appropriate volunteering opportunities. To do this, they offer advice and support to both volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations through a range of services that include information provision, consultation, training and Garda Vetting.

Local Volunteer Centres provide an invaluable link between individuals wishing to undertake voluntary activity and organisations seeking to involve volunteers. Volunteer Centres believe passionately in the value of volunteering and the benefits of volunteering for all: the individual, the volunteer-involving organisation and the wider society. They contribute to community development, active citizenship and social capital and are a vital component of any national volunteering infrastructure, providing local support at the same time as informing future initiatives and national policy. In addition to placing volunteers, Volunteer Centres stimulate and encourage volunteering by promoting volunteering at local, regional and national events and in local, regional and national campaigns.

They work towards breaking down the barriers to volunteering, targeting specific groups of people who are under- or unrepresented in volunteering. Volunteer Centres develop volunteering opportunities through consultation with local voluntary and community organisations. They recognise the potential of volunteering and encourage groups and organisations – be they private, statutory or voluntary and community – to think creatively about volunteering roles and to develop imaginative, non-traditional opportunities for potential volunteers. In addition, Volunteer Centres work to promote good practice in working with volunteers through the delivery of training and support.

They campaign and respond to legislation that may impact on volunteering and, as local experts on volunteering, inform planning and policy at regional and national level. Volunteer Centres would never claim to ‘own’ volunteering. Rather, they take a pro-active approach to facilitating and enabling volunteering. They will work with any organisation that seeks to do likewise. The Irish government is committed to developing the volunteering infrastructure in Ireland, including through supporting local Volunteer Centres. This is outlined in Towards 2016 and the National Development Plan, 2007-2013. In June 2009, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs issued its Policy on Volunteer Centres.

Meath Volunteer Centre are here to try and meet your volunteering needs, whether you are a volunteer or a voluntary organisation. If you would like to comment on our service, you can do so in a number of ways. Please try and give us as much detail as you can, and if you would like a response, please give us your contact details and preferred method of contact.

Email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Write to us at: Meath Volunteer Centre, Unit 7, Kells Business Park, Cavan Road, Kells, Co Meath.

Meath Volunteer Centre Complaints Policy is also available for download

Responsibilities of Meath Volunteer Centre Towards Service Users

Potential Volunteers

Meath Volunteer Centre aims to support potential volunteers to identify the most suitable volunteer opportunities for each individual. This is done by inviting potential volunteers to meet with a staff member, providing information on all opportunities by email or mail, and by placing all opportunities on our website.

However MVC has no responsibility for the actions of any organisation advertising a volunteer role, particularly in regards to their volunteer selection and management practices. All roles are advertised in good faith and it is up to each potential volunteer to ensure as much as possible that the organisation they intend to volunteer with can meet their needs.

Volunteer Seeking Organisations

Meath Volunteer Centre aims to support non-profit organisations seeking volunteers by advertising volunteer role descriptions to potential volunteers. This is done by inviting potential volunteers to meet with a staff member, providing information on all opportunities by email or mail, and by placing all opportunities on our website.

However MVC has no responsibility in relation to the suitability of any potential volunteer for a volunteer role. MVC also has no responsibility for the actions of any volunteer while volunteering with an organisation.

Meath Volunteer Centre

Company Registered No: 422454 Charity No: CHY 17324 

Meath Volunteer Centre is a Meath Partnership service.

The Volunteer Centre is a member of Volunteer Centres Ireland (VCI).

Volunteer Centre Opening Hours

Monday to Friday
09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:30
Closed Saturday, Sundays and Bank Public Holidays

Copyright Information 

Web site content Copyright (c) 2006 - 2012 Meath Volunteer Centre - All Rights Reserved. In accessing these web pages, you agree that you may only download content for your own non-commercial use. You are not permitted to copy, download, store, broadcast, transmit, show or play any of these pages or any of their content whatsoever without the prior consent of the Meath Volunteer Centre. The logos, artwork and downloads that appear on these pages are copyright © 2006 - 2010. They may not be used in any form without prior consent. In the use of other organisations\' or companies\' logos all trademarks and copyright is recognised and respected. Where information is used on another website or in any typed or written form the following acknowledgement is required: Information provided by Meath Volunteer Centre www.volunteermeath.ie

Accuracy
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this web site, the information contained herein is of a condensed and general nature only and can change from time to time. It should not, by itself, be relied upon in determining legal rights or other decisions. Readers / users are advised at all times to verify, by direct contact with Meath Volunteer Centre, any information on which they wish to rely.

Liability
Meath Volunteer Centre hereby formally disclaims legal or other liability for any inaccuracy, mistake, mis-statement or any error of whatsoever nature contained in this website. The views and opinions expressed throughout this website and the various attached links are for information purposes only are not necessarily the views or opinions of the group, association, its staff, members or the webmaster.

Terms and Conditions
Access to, and use of, this site is provided by Meath Volunteer Centre subject to the following Terms and Conditions: Use of this site constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions, which take effect immediately on your first use of the site. Meath Volunteer Centre reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time by posting changes online. You are responsible for reviewing regularly information posted online to obtain timely notice of such changes.

Your continued use of this site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of this agreement as modified by the posted changes. Material may not be copied, reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way except for your own personal non-commercial home use. Any other use requires the prior written permission of the Meath Volunteer Centre. You agree not to adapt, alter or create a derivative work from any of the material contained in this site or use it for any other purpose other than for your personal non-commercial use.

You agree to use this site only for lawful purposes, and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of, or restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of this site by any third party. Such restriction or inhibition includes, without limitation, conduct which is unlawful, or which may harass or cause distress or inconvenience to any person and the transmission of obscene or offensive content or disruption of normal flow of dialogue within this site. These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ireland. Disputes arising here from shall be exclusively subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Ireland. If these Terms and Conditions are not accepted in full, you do not have permission to access the contents of this website and therefore should cease using this website immediately.

Our understanding of volunteering is that:

• Volunteering is always a matter of choice and is done of the volunteers' own free will and without coercion. 
• Volunteering is a legitimate way in which citizens can participate in the activities of their community. 
• Volunteering benefits both the community and the volunteer and gives people a sense of ownership of their local community. 
• Voluntary work is unpaid. 
• Volunteering is a vehicle for individuals or groups to address human, environmental and social needs. 

We believe that:

• Volunteers should be treated with respect and dignity. 
• Everyone should have an equal opportunity to volunteer. 
• Volunteering should respect the rights, dignity and culture of others. 
• Everyone should have a positive experience of volunteering. 
• Volunteering should be a "win - win" situation for both the volunteer and the organisation. 

Therefore, we are committed to:

• Promoting the value of volunteering to all sectors of the local community. 
• Offering a service that will be inclusive, accessible and high quality. 
• Serving as best we can every volunteer who accesses our service and ensuring that volunteers are the focus of our work. 
• Resourcing and supporting volunteers to make informed choices about volunteering, maintaining relevant, up-to-date information on volunteering opportunities. 
• Developing new opportunities and projects involving volunteers in their local community 
• Referring volunteers to a wide range of community and voluntary projects across all sectors of the community. 
• Working with organisations so that they can achieve best practice principles in volunteer management. 
• Ensuring that volunteers do not replace paid workers nor constitute a threat to the job security of paid workers. 
• Promoting the principles of equity and participation within the volunteer sector.
• Raising the profile of volunteering in organisations, government and the community in general.

See also the Universal Declaration on Volunteering