Cavan Volunteer Centre closes after funding refused
CAVAN Volunteer Centre, which has been matching individuals and groups to volunteering opportunities in the county since 2022, is in the process of closing.
The Cavan hub was one of 29 such centres across Ireland providing a wide range of information, guidance and support to organisations and individuals who were seeking volunteers or wished to volunteer.
The Celt understands that volunteers registered in Cavan can now be ‘passed over’ to be registered with the Monaghan Volunteer Centre, if they wish.
In a letter seen by the Celt, Cavan volunteers are being advised they can still apply for roles in this county but should contact Monaghan Volunteer Centre if they have any questions or need support. The letter also says: 'It is hoped to resume a full Volunteer Centre service in the future.' The Department of Rural Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG), which provides core funding to volunteer centres around the country, told the Celt it had recently decided not to provide funding to the Cavan centre.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “After careful consideration, DRCDG has decided that it will no longer fund Cavan Volunteer Centre CLG.”
They said said volunteer information services in Cavan will be maintained by the Monaghan and Meath centres “until a sustainable solution can be implemented”.
The statement also pointed out that volunteer centres “may and do receive income from other sources".
The Celt asked DRCDG the reasons why funding to Cavan Volunteer Centre has been stopped but the department declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Volunteer Ireland, which is the national development organisation for volunteering in Ireland and a support body to Volunteer Centres said:
“We are aware that Cavan Volunteer Centre is in the process of winding up.”
The statement also said that, while volunteer centres like the one in Cavan are affiliated to Volunteer Ireland, “we do not represent or fund them".
Volunteer centres are registered charities and, as such, are regulated by the Charity Regulator.
Despite attempts to speak to someone from Cavan Volunteer Centre about the reasons behind the Department’s decision not to fund the hub and for its closure, nobody was available for comment.