Teams

Judith Ming

Volunteer Transport Officer

Judith manages the volunteering scheme in Ards and North Down. Based in Bangor Judith recruits, manages and supports the volunteers who ensure that looked after children are able to attend school and necessary appointments.

Andrew Hanna

Events Officer

Andrew works closely with Clara within our Events Team to support the delivery of Event Volunteer Programmes at major events across Northern Ireland. They have recruited, trained and managed volunteers for Lap the Lough, Wake the Giant, One Young World Conference, Eats and Beats, Footsteps in the Forest, Balmoral Show, Schools Summit and the 148^th and 153rd Open. In the year ahead, they will support the Look North Festival, Balmoral Show and Fleadh Cheoil na Éireann 2026, while also managing and developing a volunteer database of over 2,200 event volunteers.

Clara O’Callaghan

Events Officer

Clara works closely with Andrew within our Events Team to support the delivery of Event Volunteer Programmes at major events across Northern Ireland. They have recruited, trained and managed volunteers for Lap the Lough, Wake the Giant, One Young World Conference, Eats and Beats, Footsteps in the Forest, Balmoral Show, Schools Summit and the 148^th and 153rd Open. In the year ahead, they will support the Look North Festival, Balmoral Show and Fleadh Cheoil na Éireann 2026, while also managing and developing a volunteer database of over 2,200 event volunteers.

Jane Gribbin

Community Engagement Manager

Jane has been part of Volunteer Now—and previously the Volunteer Development Agency—for over 19 years, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to the voluntary sector. Her commitment to volunteering spans a lifetime, having taken on a wide range of roles throughout the years.

William has volunteered with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for 23 years as a crew member, and has worked for the organisation for 10 years within its Volunteer Development Team and now serves as the Volunteering Growth Manager. He has led projects to ensure the sustainability of lifeboat stations across the UK & Ireland. He also led the organisation’s move to a new volunteer management system, and has developed volunteer management training, impact measurement and compliance with safeguarding policy across multiple jurisdictions.

Olga has sixteen years’ experience of working with the Voluntary & Community Sector in supporting the development of community infrastructure. She served as Strategic Director of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Council from 2015-2024, with responsibility for delivering strategic, regulatory and development functions. From 2008, Olga worked with the Department of Social Development and later the Department for Communities in relation to supporting Volunteering policy at a national and local level.

Jeannie joined the Volunteer Now Board of Trustees in April 2023. She has 13 years’ experience working across the public sector and civil society. Jeannie is a Social Value Advisor at the NI Strategic Investment Board. She advises the public sector on opportunities to maximise the benefit of Government buying power for people, communities and the planet. She leads on Social Value approaches for Services contracts, including by providing guidance and training on the NI Executive’s recently introduced policy, 'Scoring of Social Value'. Before joining SIB, Jeannie held several roles promoting social justice and active citizenship in civil society, including at Trócaire and Habitat for Humanity. She was a 2022 Fellow of the Social Change Initiative where her research focused on taking local action on global issues. She previously served on the Board of Trustees of Home-Start North Belfast. Jeannie is passionate about the role of volunteering in bringing people together to build strong communities where everyone can contribute.

Jenny has worked in the world of community development for 16 years and has a rich history in volunteer management within community organisations including: youth, older people, addictions and mental health. Her role in the leadership team at Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership, an older peoples charity in Mid & East Antrim includes managing the service delivery for a number of health related contracts, as well as building capacity in local community groups around funding, governance and project management. As a strong advocate for the voluntary sector, she has previously served on a number of third sector voluntary boards including Kells and Connor Pre School and The Alternative Medicine Theatre, as well as holding the coveted position of the Boardroom Apprentice for the Northern Ireland Charity Commission in 2018/2019. As part of her ongoing personal development, Jenny is currently studying for a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management for Health & Social Care.

Jenny joined the Board of Volunteer Now in September 2021. Jenny has 18 years' experience of engaging and involving volunteers: 5 years of schools and community fundraising with NSPCC and 13 years with the National Trust. Within National Trust, she worked alongside volunteers, directly managed teams of volunteers, was the Volunteer & Community Involvement Officer for a portfolio of properties with 450 volunteers and is currently the regional NI People Business Partner for volunteering and community. She is a voluntary trustee of Belfast Homeless Services and volunteered as secretary of St Columbanus College PTA for many years. Her experience means she understands the range of operational and strategic opportunities and challenges inherent in volunteering. She is personally and professionally invested in volunteering for deep mutual benefit at an individual, organisational and societal level and is honoured to support Volunteer Now's mission to support and advocate for volunteering, volunteers and volunteer involving organisations in Northern Ireland. The pandemic has accelerated societal change and the landscape of volunteering is changing at pace too; as a sector, we must work collectively to support volunteer involving groups and organisations to respond to the changing needs and expectations of people who want to give their time to causes they believe in.