Volunteer
Volunteers founded Cork Simon Community Cork 40 years ago. Today over 650 volunteers work alongside staff to reach out to and support people who are homeless in Cork or at risk of becoming homeless.
The first volunteers in 1971 organised a nightly Soup Run. To this day a team of volunteers continues to take the Soup Run out onto the streets every night.
Volunteers remain at the heart of everything Cork Simon does. They have helped improve the quality and effectiveness of projects and services for people who are homeless. Voluntarism is one of Cork Simon’s six values:
Both volunteers and paid staff are central to the work of Cork Simon. The time and resources of volunteers is a unique dimension of the Community.
Volunteers are active in every aspect of Cork Simon Community:
- Board of Directors
- Full-Time Volunteers
- Part-Time Volunteers
- Event Organisers
- Fundraisers
- Administration
FULL-TIME Volunteering
There are currently 21 Full-Time Volunteers from a host of countries around the world, including Ireland, placed at Cork Simon. Full-time volunteers commit 39 hours per week for at least 6 months - many stay longer.
Full-Time Volunteers work alongside staff at Cork Simon’s Emergency Shelter and Housing Projects. Cork Simon provides accommodation and a weekly allowance. Full-Time Volunteers participate fully in all Cork Simon activities, including training and development. All Full-Time Volunteers participate in a DIT Certificate in Volunteering, which is delivered in-house at Cork Simon.
Interested in Becoming a Full-Time Volunteer?
If you would like to apply to be a Full-Time Volunteer, please complete the Application Form on the Simon Communities of Ireland website: http://www.simon.ie/index.php?page=volunteer-with-simon
FULL-TIME EVS Volunteering
A number of Cork Simon's Full Time Volunteer are funded through the European Voluntary Service (EVS), which is part of the EU Youth in Action Programme. This programme offers young Europeans the chance to make a real difference to the world – and to their own lives by volunteering in a not-for-profit organisation in another country. All costs, including pre-departure training, travel, accommodation and subsistence are paid and volunteers receive a small monthly allowance during the project. Further information on EVS is available from http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/european-voluntary-s.... To find out more about EVS volunteering with Cork Simon, please contact the Simon Communities of Ireland Volunteer Coordinator on +353 1 6711606 or email volunteering@simoncommunity.com.
PART-TIME Volunteering
Over 650 people are currently actively volunteering at Cork Simon Community. Part-Time Volunteers are involved in every aspect of Cork Simon’s Work:
- Working in the Emergency Shelter
- Visiting people in houses and flats
- Getting involved in sports, arts and other activities with people
- Helping people develop life skills like cooking, literacy and numeracy
- Working with Outreach team and Soup Run
- Gardening, painting and decorating
- Helping Cork Simon to raise €2m
- Office and administration work
The number and type of Volunteer Vacancies changes every month. Volunteer Vacancies can include such diverse placements as Bus Driver, Music Tutor, Mentor, Chiropodist, Receptionist, Soup Run Volunteer, DIY Tutor and Walking Group Leader.
We ask all Part-Time Volunteers to:
- Give a long-term commitment
- Give a few hours per week
- Be respectful
- Be understanding
- Be patient
- Respect confidentiality
- Work as part of a team
- Believe in people
Interested in Becoming a Part-Time Volunteer?
If you are interested in becoming a Part-Time Volunteer, please complete the form below.
We will then send you an information pack and invite you attend a Volunteer Come and See Information Sessions. After attending a Come and See Information Session we will ask you to complete and return a Volunteer Application Form. Once your application is accepted and approved, we will ask you to attend a Getting Started Information Session, which will give you more specific information about your role as a volunteer. Depending on your Volunteer Placement, you may be asked to attend a Project Induction before commencing volunteering.
