NI organisations unite for UN International Volunteer Year

Volunteer Now, the leading voice of volunteering in Northern Ireland, has united a powerful group of local organisations to champion the UN International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026). This global campaign aims to champion and amplify the critical role volunteers play in achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

The year-long campaign will focus on the UN’s core themes of recognising, measuring, and integrating volunteerism in the development of sustainability strategies.

The group will host a series of quarterly events for organisations, policy makers, and academia in Northern Ireland. These will drive action to build sustainable communities by valuing, strengthening, and securing investment in volunteering.

The IVY 2026 sub-group in Northern Ireland is chaired by Koulla Yiasouma and consists of representatives from British Red Cross, Easilink, NI Cancer Fund for Children, National Museums NI, Housing Rights Association, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), Multi-Ethnic Sports and Culture NI (MSCNI), Department for the Communities, AbbeyField and Wesley and The King’s Trust.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Denise Hayward, Chief Executive of Volunteer Now, said: “International Volunteer Year is an incredible opportunity for us to amplify the voice and actions of volunteers in Northern Ireland and to secure long-term commitment from decision-makers to recognise the vital role volunteering plays in our communities.

“By fostering community engagement and collective action, volunteering contributes meaningfully to the places we live. The UN’s recognition that volunteering is a powerful means of achieving its Sustainable Development Goals gives us the mandate to ask for financial and policy investment that will support a sustainable future for our sector. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure Northern Ireland offers an environment in which volunteering can truly flourish for the benefit of everyone,” Denise Hayward said.

Next year’s events will explore the key pillars of the UN resolution, calling on stakeholders to address challenges and commit to action through four dedicated quarters.

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.

To find out more about how you or your organisation can get involved with volunteering in Northern Ireland, or to learn more about how you can support IVY 2026, contact Volunteer Now on 02890 232020 or email info@volunteernow.co.uk.