Mid Ulster Council shows support for UN International Volunteer Year

This global campaign aims to champion and amplify the critical role volunteers play in achieving the UN's 2030 Agenda.

The year-long campaign will focus on the UN's core themes of recognising, measuring, and integrating volunteerism in the development of sustainability strategies.

Throughout the year the IVY 2026 working group will host a series of quarterly events for organisations, policy makers, and academia in Northern Ireland. These will drive action to build sustainable communities by valuing, strengthening, and securing investment in volunteering.

Speaking about the Year, Chairperson of Mid Ulster District Council, Cllr Frances Burton said: “Volunteering is the cornerstone of community development across Mid Ulster. The level and breadth of volunteers supporting local groups and activities is a great achievement and one that it is important to recognise and celebrate. As a Council we see this every day from the number of people volunteering in their local Church groups, sporting groups, cultural groups and many other.”

Volunteer Now’s CEO, Denise Hayward, said: “International Volunteer Year is an incredible opportunity for us to amplify the voice and actions of volunteers in Northern Ireland and to secure long-term commitment from decision-makers to recognise the vital role volunteering plays in our communities.

“By fostering community engagement and collective action, volunteering contributes meaningfully to the places we live. The UN's recognition that volunteering is a powerful means of achieving its Sustainable Development Goals gives us the mandate to ask for financial and policy investment that will support a sustainable future for our sector. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure Northern Ireland offers an environment in which volunteering can truly flourish for the benefit of everyone,” Denise Hayward said.

Mid Ulster Volunteer Centre’s Manager, Michele McKeown said: “Volunteers sit at the heart of community life in Mid Ulster, and IVY 2026 provides an important opportunity to recognise their dedication. IVY 2026 reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that volunteering continues to be valued, celebrated, and well supported in Mid Ulster and Northern Ireland.”

The year’s events will set out to explore the key pillars of the UN resolution, calling on stakeholders to address challenges and commit to action through four dedicated quarters.

The campaign will kick off by gaining a better understanding of volunteering and exploring the latest research on the landscape in Northern Ireland. Subsequent events will then examine the barriers to volunteering and how organisations can overcome these.

The second half of the year will focus on neighbourliness and informal volunteering, and how organisations can help champion diversity and tackle underrepresentation in the volunteer network.

To find out more about how you, or your organisation, can get involved with volunteering in Northern Ireland, or to learn more about how you can support IVY 2026, contact Volunteer Now on 02890 232020 or email [email protected] and Mid Ulster Volunteer Centre on 028 7930 1862 or email i[email protected]