PEACEPLUS-funded Operation Volunteering launched in Lisburn & Castlereagh
Operation Volunteering, a new initiative designed to support inclusive, flexible and sustainable volunteering, was officially launched on Wednesday 29 April at Lagan Valley Island.
The initiative is being delivered by Volunteer Now and is a project supported by PEACEPLUS; a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The programme will focus on strengthening volunteering across the Lisburn & Castlereagh area by building skills, supporting wellbeing, and creating meaningful opportunities for people to get involved.
The launch event brought together local community and voluntary organisations, volunteers and partners. Attendees heard from Councillor Uel Mackin, Chair of the PEACEPLUS Partnership, who delivered the official welcome, followed by Denise Hayward, Chief Executive of Volunteer Now, who spoke about the current landscape of volunteering in Northern Ireland and the importance of providing targeted, practical support to the sector.
Operation Volunteering is designed to upskill and build the capacity, resilience and practical experience of both new and existing volunteers. Through collaborative and partnership approaches, the programme aims to bolster volunteer numbers locally while helping to address challenges such as volunteer fatigue.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Uel Mackin, Chair of the Lisburn & Castlereagh PEACEPLUS Partnership congratulated all those involved in developing the project and commented:
“Volunteer Now has a vital role in strengthening our communities by supporting and empowering local people to get involved. By investing in our volunteers, we’re not only building skills, confidence and practical experience, but also growing our volunteer base and fostering stronger connections across the area. It’s wonderful to see initiatives that bring people together to make a real difference in their communities, and I wish them every success.
Denise Hayward, CEO at Volunteer Now, commented:
“We’re really delighted to be working with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to deliver the PEACEPLUS‑funded Operation Volunteering project. It gives us a real opportunity to listen to local groups, understand what support they need, and deliver targeted training and support to help them attract new volunteers and sustain the volunteers they already have into the future.”
Peace Manager, Niamh O’Carolan said
“It was clear from our consultations that volunteering was an area that needed resources and support. It’s the first time we’ve had a dedicated project to volunteering and it will make a big difference to the capacity and resilience of our local volunteers. There’s lots of opportunities for participants to get involved in various programmes and I’m delighted that this sector has been recognised and will get well needed support from PEACEPLUS funding to build skills and capacity.”
To find out more about how you or your organisation can get involved with Operation Volunteering, contact Volunteer Now on 02890 232020 or email info@volunteernow.co.uk
