Playing a part in your community

Roscrea man Mike Edwards offers his experiences on the the ups and downs of volunteering

Volunteering in your community is important for several reasons, according to Mike Edwards of Roscrea Community Hub, who says it brings numerous positive impacts.

Mike says volunteering also brings its challenges as well, and here he sets out the positives and negatives of volunteering in your community.

Among the positives he lists is that volunteering contributes to the overall development and well-being of your community. By offering your time, skills, and resources, you can help address local issues, support vulnerable populations, and enhance the quality of life for everyone.

Volunteering, he says, also has a social impact. “Volunteering allows you to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and groups in need. Whether it's mentoring youth, assisting the elderly, or providing aid during a crisis, your contributions can bring about tangible improvements and create a sense of solidarity within the community,” says Mike.

And he says it contributes to personal growth. “Volunteering provides opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. You can develop new skills, gain valuable experience, and broaden your perspective by engaging with diverse communities, cultures, and challenges. It can also boost your confidence, improve your communication and teamwork abilities, and enhance your empathy and understanding.” Other benefits he mentions are in the areas of networking and connections: “Volunteering offers an excellent platform for networking and building meaningful connections. You can meet like-minded individuals, professionals, and community leaders who share your interests and values. These connections can open doors to new opportunities, career prospects, and collaborations in the future.”

On top of all that is the sense of fulfilment that volunteering brings. “Helping others and contributing to the betterment of society,” says Mike, “can bring a deep sense of fulfilment and purpose. Volunteering allows you to experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from making a difference in someone's life, which can greatly enhance your overall well-being and happiness.”

THE CHALLENGES

Mike also mentions what he believes are the negatives that offering yourself as a volunteer in your community can bring. He talks about the time constraints involved, commenting: “Volunteering requires a commitment of time and energy. Depending on your other responsibilities, such as work, education, or family obligations, it may be challenging to find a balance. This can lead to fatigue or burnout if not managed properly.”

Volunteering, too, brings emotional challenges. “Some volunteering opportunities involve working with individuals who may be facing difficult circumstances or experiencing trauma,” explains Mike. “This can be emotionally demanding and require a high level of resilience and empathy. It's important to be prepared for the potential emotional challenges that may arise, while remembering that organisations and groups offer induction, training and supports when volunteering.”

There’s also the contentious issues of having to make do with limited resources. “Community organisations and non-profits often face limited resources and funding, which can impact the effectiveness and scope of their initiatives. As a volunteer, you may encounter situations where the organisation's resources are stretched thin or where the impact you can make feels limited due to constraints beyond your control.”

Other negatives he has experienced during his own long years working as a volunteer include the problem of when a person does not have the skills to do the job they are allocated. Mike calls it a “skill mismatch”. “Occasionally, you may find that your skills or interests don't align perfectly with the available volunteering opportunities. It's important to find a volunteer role that utilises your strengths and passions to maximize your impact and personal satisfaction, Tipperary volunteer centre is the ideal resource to check out who needs volunteers and what each organisation requires from individuals and the benefits of volunteering in that group,” he says.

Another negative is volunteers coming to roles with unrealistic expectations. “Sometimes, individuals may have unrealistic expectations about the impact they can make as a volunteer,” Mike comments. “It's crucial to have a realistic understanding of the limitations and challenges involved, as the results of volunteering efforts may take time to manifest or may not always meet initial expectations.”

In conclusion, volunteering in your community has numerous positives, says Mike – positives such as contributing to community development, making a positive social impact, experiencing personal growth, developing networking skills, and having a feeling of an overall sense of fulfilment. “However, it's important to be aware of the potential time constraints, emotional challenges, limited resources, skill mismatch, and managing realistic expectations that can arise while volunteering,” he cautions. “By being prepared and finding the right balance, you can make a meaningful and positive difference in your community.”

FURTHER INFORMATION

Finally, Mike says that within any region there are several overlapping volunteer opportunities which are ongoing and advises checking in with social media and especially your local Volunteer Centre or Public Participation Network office to find a volunteering role suitable for you.

The following sources would be a good place to start, he says: Tipperary Volunteer Centre (062) 64775 info@volunteertipperary.ie

Offaly Volunteer Centre 083 0154669; info@volunteeroffaly.ie

Tipperary Participation Network 0504 61014; coordinator@ppntipperary.ie

Offaly Public Participation Network 0579346800; ppn@offalycoco.ie