25th September 2009: Give it a Swirl Day

What is Give It A Swirl?

Give It A Swirl (GIAS) is the national day of volunteering organised by Volunteer Centres Ireland in conjunction with our member Volunteer Centres and other partner organisations. GIAS is a unique initiative as it concentrates on hands-on involvement rather than fundraising, giving volunteers an immediate sense of achievement. For GIAS, we encourage organisations to create once-off volunteering opportunities that benefit them and the community - and which show that volunteering, even for a few short hours, can make a difference and be a lot of fun. If people want to get involved in volunteering on a more long-term basis as a result, we're all in favour of that too! Aims of Give It A Swirl:  To promote and raise awareness of volunteering in Ireland  To create new avenues for people of all ages and from all walks of life to volunteer in their community  To provide a day of national volunteering which takes place at a local level Project Theme: The theme is 'Community Makeover.' The project list below contains some ideas for possible projects that you can organise for Give it a Swirl Day. This list is by no means exhaustive. The important thing is that the project includes a ‘hands on' element so volunteers can get actively involved and see the results at the end of the day. If your County Council, Chamber of Commerce or Voluntary Organisation is interested in hosting a project on the day we ask that you confirm your project idea with VCI or your local Volunteer Centre for approval. Project ideas might include:  Refurbishing or painting a crèche, homeless/refugee shelter, or youth/community centre  Visit the elderly or complete shopping, gardening, or DIY tasks for the elderly  Cook and/or serve meals to the homeless  Landscape a community roundabout, town centre or community centre  Paint a mural or remove graffiti  Organise a collection of food, clothes, or toys or to be donated to a chosen charity that works with families in need  Run a sports/activity day for disadvantaged youth or those with special needs  Plant trees or native plants in a natural area  Organise a litter cleanup in a town, natural area or along a waterway or coastline Give It A Swirl will take place on Friday, September 25th. For further information, please contact Eva Early on (01) 799 4519 or eva@volunteer.ie. For more information visit www.volunteer.ie/-Give-it-a-Swirl- Go on, Give it a Swirl!