The Department for Social Development (DSD) has awarded the Irish Football Association (IFA), Ulster GAA, and the Irish Rugby Football Union’s Ulster Branch funding to support their joint ‘Sport in the Community – a home for lifelong volunteering' programme.
The partnership between the three organisations will support a range of joint development programmes, including:
· A focussed recruitment programme for volunteers,
· Improving the skills of volunteers through dedicated training,
· Improving the volunteering experience through dedicated induction and mentoring,
· Implementation of a volunteer management programme
· Providing a supporting infrastructure,
· Providing volunteer opportunities at grassroots and regional level; and
· Providing resources to support and promote best practice.
Announcing the funding Minister Storey said: “I am delighted that my Department is able to continue to support these three organisations on this joint initiative; ‘Sport in the Community – a home for lifelong volunteering’.
“Those people within our communities who offer their free time by volunteering to help others are invaluable to society. This additional funding will enable the organisations to continue to focus on developing further volunteering initiatives by providing the required resources for community and volunteering officers within each of the organisations.”
The Minister added: “Working in partnership is fundamental when reaching out to the people within our communities. This integrated approach to volunteering by the IFA, the GAA and the Ulster Rugby Football Union has been very successful over the last three years and this further funding will support those who undertake and participate in this excellent programme in the year ahead.”
Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey MLA pictured with (L-R) IRFU Ulster Branch President John Kinnear, Ulster GAA President Martin McAviney and Irish FA Deputy President David Martin pictured following the funding announcement.