National Volunteering Week 2026: ‘From Every Corner, For Every Cause’

National Volunteering Week – the third week of May every year – is dedicated to showcasing the enormous contribution of volunteers and their impact on our communities.

There will be events across the country, from volunteering information sessions and coffee mornings to yoga classes for volunteers, along with training for volunteer managers.

This year’s theme is ‘From Every Corner, For Every Cause’, celebrates the collective power of volunteering (local and global) and honours the people whose time, compassion and commitment make a measurable difference every day. The impact of volunteering has huge ripples.

Every action, no matter how small, has an impact and helps to inspire and connect volunteers across the world.

Sharon Timothy, coordinator of Westmeath Volunteer Centre, said: “Outside of home and work, volunteering is the ‘third space’ for many people, where we connect, empathise, laugh and nurture.

“The bonds that are built through volunteering strengthen our communities and unite us as we mind each other.

“National Volunteering Week is an opportunity for the whole country to celebrate how our countless instances of supporting our community connects us into a huge network of care.”

National Volunteering Week is anchored by a digital campaign sharing personal volunteer stories and encouraging people across the country to think about the impact volunteers have on our communities.

Volunteer Ireland is the national volunteer development organisation and a support body for all local Volunteer Centres in Ireland. Its vision is an Ireland where volunteering thrives.

Volunteer Ireland works to increase awareness of, access to and quality in volunteering in Ireland.

Volunteer Centres

The 29 Volunteer Centres are the local leaders in community engagement, supporting and promoting volunteering. They provide a placement service between individuals and groups who want to undertake voluntary activity and organisations that are seeking to involve volunteers, along with a range of other services.

A full list of Volunteer Centres is available online. For further information, visit: volunteer.ie.

Westmeath Volunteer Centre spotlights Soroptimist Mullingar and District for National Volunteer Week

As part of National Volunteer Week, Westmeath Volunteer Centre is recognising Soroptimist International Mullingar and District for more than three decades of dedicated voluntary service supporting women and girls locally, nationally, and internationally.

Founded in 1991, the Mullingar group are part of a global network of approximately 70,000 women across 160 countries, all working to improve the lives and status of women and girls.

Built on friendship, community, and action, the organisation focus on education, empowerment, and creating opportunities for women and girls to reach their full potential.

Over the last 35 years, Soroptimist Mullingar have made a significant impact within the community, contributing to a wide range of initiatives including mental health support, healthcare, suicide prevention, and services supporting older people and those living with illness.

Through their fundraising efforts, they have donated significant funding to local charities and community initiatives.

The group are also actively involved in awareness campaigns addressing key issues such as gender-based violence and human trafficking, while continuing to promote women’s voices through initiatives such as the national Girls Public Speaking Competition.

Beyond advocacy, the group have contributed to enhancing the local environment through projects including public art installations, tree planting, and the development of wellbeing spaces in the town, reflecting a commitment to community and sustainability.

While their impact is far-reaching, members say their strength comes from friendship and shared purpose. Many members have given decades of service, and several founding members are still actively involved today.

As National Volunteer Week highlights the value of volunteering, Soroptimist Mullingar are powerful examples of how local action can create lasting change.

The group warmly welcome new members who are interested in making a difference while building meaningful connections within the community.

Orange the World

Soroptimist Mullingar support the ‘Orange the World’ campaign that is part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, running annually from November 25 to December 10.

This global campaign aims to promote a clear message of zero tolerance; the colour orange symbolises a brighter, safer future, free from violence and harm.

Each year, Soroptimist International Mullingar and District work in partnership with local groups and Westmeath County Council to encourage the town to ‘Go Orange’ – lighting up buildings, hosting awareness events, engaging with the public, and creating visible reminders of the need to address gender-based violence. Creative initiatives such as displays of orange shoes represent women affected by domestic violence and help to start conversations and bring visibility to an issue often hidden.

The campaign also highlights the reality that one in three women experience physical or sexual violence, reinforcing the importance of awareness, education, and action at local level.

Through ‘Orange the World’, Soroptimist Mullingar play an important role in ensuring those conversations are happening within the community.

Spotlight on Éist – Saying No To Silence

As part of National Volunteer Week, Éist – Saying No To Silence is being recognised by Westmeath Volunteer Centre for its vital work supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence across the midlands.

Founded in 2025 by survivors and therapists, Éist is a volunteer-led organisation and a valued member of the Westmeath Volunteer Centre network.

Built on compassion, understanding, and lived experience, its mission is to ensure that survivors feel seen, heard, and supported, while working to break the silence surrounding sexual violence.

It provides trauma-informed support, including one-to-one emotional support, interim crisis therapy, holistic therapies, and guidance for those navigating the justice system. Éist is also committed to advocacy and education. Through campaigns such as ‘Zero Tolerance’ and Éist Aware training, the group works with communities and businesses to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and promote safer environments.

The dedication and hard work of organisations like Éist have played an important role in ensuring that Westmeath is actively contributing to the national strategy, which sets out a clear aim of achieving zero tolerance of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence in our communities.

The name ‘Éist’ (‘listen’ in Irish) reflects the organisation’s core belief: that every survivor deserves to be heard and supported without judgement.

During National Volunteer Week, Éist stands as an example of how compassion, courage, and community action can make a real difference in people’s lives.

Éist is not a crisis service – it champions accessible support through signposting individuals to appropriate trauma informed services and supports where needed. Counselling and psychotherapy are provided for those who ask for it.

It delivers workshops, events and campaigns within the community bringing these conversations to the local level.

Finally, Éist continuously advocates for safer systems and survivor centred approaches, contributing to ongoing conversations around policy, practice, and cultural change.

Westmeath County Council continue to actively support the zero-tolerance approach to gender-based violence. That work is aligned with the government’s Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence – Zero Tolerance, which was launched in 2022 and runs to 2026.

The strategy is built three pillars, prevention, protection, and support, and sets out a whole-of-government approach aimed at eliminating domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence, while strengthening coordinated responses and survivor-centred services across Ireland.

Mental Health Ireland Campaign Hello How are You

Soroptimists Mullingar and District support the Mental Health Ireland Campaign day ‘Hello How are You’ on May 1.

This week, to support the campaign, Soroptimists organised a presentation by Julia Smyth, Mullingar Mental Health Association, on the campaign. Members from Meals on Wheels, TEAM, Mullingar Community Projects, LARCC, Tanzanian Heavenly Homes, Ben’s LifeLine, Team Hope Shoebox Appeal, St Vincent De Paul and An Garda Síochána joined the Soroptimists for the event.

They received information cards for sharing with their organisations to remind them to pause and take the time to reach out to someone who could at any time during the year benefit from hearing a friendly voice.

Mullingar and District Soroptimists background

The Mullingar and District Soroptimists Mullingar celebrate their 35th anniversary this year, having been founded with a charter in 1991.

The club celebrated their 30th anniversary with a lunch at Bloomfield House Hotel on November 6, 2022, and founders still active at that time included Ina O’Leary, Teresa O’Sullivan, Valyrie Moroney, Noirin Abbott, and Connie Galligan. Over their first three decades, they raised nearly €500,000 to support local charities, including St Vincent de Paul, Good2Talk, and Tanzanian Heavenly Homes.

Mullingar and District Soroptimists have contributed to the community with projects like the Pilgrim Monks sculpture, trees in the Town Park, and a seat in the Tranquillity Garden at the County Buildings.

They are actively involved in women’s empowerment, including the annual Girls Public Speaking Competition, ‘Orange the World’ campaigns against gender violence, and hosting events for International Women’s Day.

Branch members remain active, and have conducted ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ awareness events on human trafficking and have organised man community events.