Diocese celebrates volunteering

On Friday in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Belfast, the focus was on the programme ‘Living Together Giving Together - A Celebration of Volunteering in Sports, Arts and Faith Based Organisations’, run in partnership by Voluntary Arts Ireland, the Church of Ireland diocese of Derry and Raphoe, the GAA and City Church Belfast.

Funded by the Department for Social Development (NI) and the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (RoI) the programme has been running since 2008 and has proved to be a great success promoting volunteer work throughout Ireland.

With a combination of over 300,000 registered volunteers between the four organisations, this is one of the largest cross-border volunteering projects ever undertaken. One of the keys to the success of the programme has been the unique partnership between four very different organisations with one similar goal, to highlight the work of volunteers and encourage others to get involved.

Living Together Giving Together was a special ceremony to highlight the achievements and success of the project and those attending were given an opportunity to vote on key questions on the impact of volunteering. For more details visit www.vaireland.org.