Louth Volunteer Centre to hold board member training

Louth Volunteer Centre says it will be running its ‘Empowering you, Empowering your Community’ Board member training programme again this year, and is inviting employee volunteers to join its programme for people interested in joining local voluntary boards or committees.

Being a board member of a charity or community & voluntary sector organisation can be a wonderful opportunity to share skills, experience, and perspective for the good of our community.

It can be hugely rewarding and offer opportunities for personal and professional development. Voluntary board members play an essential role in the not-for-profit sector, responsible for public benefit; governance; oversight and strategic direction.

However, a report launched recently by Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development showed that one of the biggest challenges for Not-for-Profit organisations nationally is a lack of volunteers putting themselves forward to become board members.

With over 400 not for profit organisations in County Louth, many of whom are essential to our local communities, this is also a local challenge.

In response to this challenge Louth Volunteer Centre, for the third year running, are delivering “Empowering You Empowering Our Community” to equip people with little or no experience of sitting on a board or committee with the knowledge and confidence to step into such a role.

Margaret, who completed the programme said, “I found the programme overall very beneficial and informative. It was excellent in providing an overall description of what being a board member involves.”

Gavin, another participant noted that the programme was, “so professional and worthwhile, a great way to meet new people and connect or reconnect with your community.” Several participants have since progressed to leadership roles in community and voluntary organisations in Louth and further afield.

As the Empowering You Empowering Our Community programme was oversubscribed when it was last held in October, Louth Volunteer Centre are urging those interested to get in touch as soon as possible to book a spot.

Spaces are now available to new applicants and the team are particularly interested in hearing from the business community that would like to boost their CSR programmes by empowering employees to volunteer on local boards and committees.

The programme starts on 8 March over Zoom and will be held in six bite sized lunch time sessions to facilitate ease of access for employee volunteers. If you are interested email: Kayleigh@volunteerlouth.ie.