Please visit the Opportunity Finder for all Expedition and Residential section opportunities, or see below.
Residential section
Share Discovery Village
Share Discovery Village deliver Gold Residential opportunities during the summer months, click here to learn more.
Volunteering section
Ulster Barbarians Wheelchair Rugby Club
Wheelchair rugby is an exciting and dynamic game played by disabled athletes. There is one Club in Northern Ireland, which meets at Wallace High School in Lisburn. They play in an all Ireland league involving four clubs, and have just joined the GB league where games are played in England.
They need volunteers to assist at the regular training at Wallace High School, on Thursday nights 7-9pm. Volunteers assist in a number of ways:
The rugby wheelchairs have to be taken from a trailer into the games hall at the start of the session, and put back after it.
Players have to be assisted from their day chairs into the rugby chairs, and back again. They also may require assistance getting gloves on and off and helping with preparation to play.
Chairs have to be kept serviceable, which means changing wheels and fixing punctures.
Volunteers also get to assist with training sessions and often play to even out numbers. It is a fun game which anyone of any sporting inclination will enjoy and find challenging.
Ideally volunteers will be physically strong and have good communication and interpersonal skills. Some training on lifting and dealing with wheelchairs will be given. Young people aged 16 years and above would be most suited to the role.
Further information is available on the website ulsterbarbarians.com or please contact either:
Hugo Frew, Secretary on 07825220947 or by email at [email protected]
Paul McLister, Chairman on 07970816264 or by email at [email protected]
Foyle Sailability
Foyle Sailability is a cross border voluntary organisation which aims to deliver opportunities for sailing and other water-based activities to people with disabilities from across the North West region of Ireland.
In the short-term, they are giving people with disabilities the chance to take to the water themselves, with expert help. In the longer-term, they want to offer the kind of support which enables those of us with disabilities to aspire towards the highest levels of sailing or water sport skills.
Further information can be found on the website foylesailability.org and if you would be interested in volunteering please contact Ken Curry on 07779008459.
Good Morning Ballymena
Good Morning Ballymena is a free friendly telephone service for adults 60 years and over who may feel lonely, who just want a regular friendly voice to talk to or simply just to listen to them or share a laugh or joke with. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9.30am – 12.30pm.
A new befriending service is also provided which includes visits to the home of the adults. DofE/JAI participants would be accompanied by an adult volunteer.
If you would be interested in volunteering for Good Morning Ballymena or for further information please contact Debbie Chestnutt, Project Co-ordinator on 028 2564 0720 (between 8.30am-12.30pm) or by email at [email protected]. Debbie would also be very happy to visit schools to talk to participants who are interested.
Volunteer Now
Volunteer Now works to support volunteering across Northern Ireland and can help you find the perfect place to volunteer as part of your DofE programme. They have launched a new volunteering opportunity search system, powered by Be Collective, a global company committed to supporting them to engage, connect and give in your community.
To find an opportunity, visit their website and use the search system to find a range of opportunities that will meet your needs. If you are under 16 you will also be able to see the symbol identifying thems as ‘Suitable for children 14+’ and you will be guaranteed that this organisation will support and encourage you through your role. There are lots of opportunities across NI to choose from and by registering on the system you will have the opportunity to create your own social cv that enables you to record your hours, log any training undertaken and skills gained! If you would like further help, you can also email [email protected] or call on 028 9023 2020.
Special Olympics Volunteer Opportunities
Special Olympics Ireland provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Special Olympics Ireland has 11,000 athletes supported by over 18,000 registered volunteers across all of Ireland.
Special Olympics Ireland provide a wide range of volunteer opportunities to suit everybody. For more information visit their website or email [email protected] or call 028 9023 9023.
Ganaway Activity Centre
Ganaway Activity Centre is offering a volunteering package for DofE participants from the age of 14. This package offers the opportunity to undertake an activity for Volunteering section helping with outdoor pursuits with the aim of getting an outdoor qualification too.
For further details please contact either Norman Rodgers or Gareth Shields at Ganaway Activity Centre on 028 9086 1297.
Volunteering with RSPB Northern Ireland
RSPB can offer opportunities at reserves in Belfast, Aghalee and Fermanagh. In addition they will facilitate projects carried out from home, schools, colleges and with the community.
To find out how you can volunteer for nature in Northern Ireland contact the volunteering team as below:
Colin Graham (Volunteering Development Officer) Tel: 028 90 491547 Email: [email protected]
Suzanne Irvine (Volunteer Coordinator) Tel: 028 90 491547 Email: [email protected]
Volunteering for Children in Crossfire
Volunteering for Children in Crossfire is a very worthwhile and rewarding thing to do, and volunteers play an important part in helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable young children. All of our voluntary work is based in the local community in Ireland and the UK.
Those who undertake voluntary work also benefit a great deal from the experience: learning and developing a wide range of transferable skills, and working with and meeting a variety of people within the local community and beyond. It’s also a lot of fun!
We are always delighted to work with new volunteers, and warmly welcome people of all ages and backgrounds. There are a number of areas in which people can get involved in the local community:
– Help at fundraising events such as supermarket collections, flag days, church collections, and other events throughout the year
– Creating awareness: speak at schools and churches in your area to raise awareness of the charity.
– Volunteer in our office: help us with administration and a variety of work in our office in Derry City, or volunteer with us over a longer period (up to several months) on an internship and get a more in-depth experience of the charity sector.
If you would like to find out more about Children in Crossfire, our work and volunteering opportunities, then please contact Ursula on 02871 269898, or email [email protected].
