Volunteering Opportunties for DCU Students

DCU Volunteer works with a number of organisations outside of the University, capturing a wide range of interests which will appeal to our student population in the form of volunteering opportuntities. The benefits to and new skills picked up by students who volunteer are numerous and outlined here.

Below is a list of organisations we are involved with - if you are interested in volunteering with one of these organisations or would like some more information about what is entailed, you contact us through our form here.

Barretstown offers free, specially designed camps and programmes for children and their families living with a serious illness – supported behind the scenes by 24 hour on site medical and nursing care. All of the children and families come to Barretstown free of charge. Everything, including accommodation, food and medical assistance are provided at no cost to the family. You can find out more about Barretsown here. 

Children’s Health Foundation raises vital funds to support sick children and their families in Children’s Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres in Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly.

You can find out more about getting involved with the Children's Health Foundation here

CIH Ireland is a national organisation established by parents to promote a positive hospital experience for all children and families. With a team of 300 volunteers across 14 hospitals nationwide, CIH Ireland facilitates play and recreation opportunities, easing the experience of hospitalisation for children and their families.

You can find out more about Children in Hospital here

Established in 2017, Feed Our Homeless is dedicated to making a difference to the lives of people who are affected by homelessness and those who are marginalised in society. Feed Our Homeless encourages people to regain agency in their lives and once again become productive members of society. They provide the following services: Emergency Outreach Service, Food Provision Program, Service User Advocacy, Pro-active Education, and a Reintegration Program.

You can find out more about Feed Our Homeless here

Fighting Blindness is a patient-led charity whose mission is to cure blindness. They promote and facilitate the development of treatments and cures for those affected by sight loss caused by retinal degenerative diseases. They provide professional counselling and therapeutic services to individuals and families living with vision impairment and blindness, and advocate for children and adults who are blind or visually impaired, and seek to empower them.

You can out more about Fighting Blindness here

Gheel Autism Services champions and supports autistic people in the greater Dublin and North Kildare region. 

Gheel Connect is the volunteer service created by Gheel which aims to help facilitate volunteers connect to people of support with a view to forming friendships for social meet ups. There are some who find it difficult to form and maintain friendships within Gheel. Some people have very few friends outside of those paid relationships provided by staff. We feel by offering friendship in a voluntary capacity, the dynamic of the relationships shifts to one of more equal status. 

You can out more about Gheel Autism Services here

The Hope Foundation is dedicated to promoting the protection of street-dwelling and slum-connected children in Kolkata, some of the most underprivileged in India, as well as their families and communities. HOPE works to effect immediate and lasting change in their lives. HOPE funds and operates projects in the areas of Child Protection, Education, Healthcare, Emergency Response, and Life Skills & Vocational Training.

You can find out more about the Hope Foundation here

Husky Rescue Ireland (HRI) was set up to alleviate the suffering caused to huskies by irresponsible ownership, abuse and neglect in Ireland. Due to the increase in akitas needing homes recently and lack of rescue space, HRI also dedicates time to rehoming them

You can find out more Husky Rescue Ireland here

Supported by people and our fantastic volunteers across the island of Ireland for over 60 years, Oxfam Ireland is an independent, secular, and not-for-profit organisation. Oxfam is a global movement of people who fight inequality, to end poverty and injustice. Some of Oxfam’s key focuses are campaigning for change, supporting vulnerable communities, protecting the planet, responding to conflict and disasters, and fighting for gender justice.

Find out more about Oxfam Ireland here 

Pieta believe that suicide prevention must be a priority, envisioning a world where suicide, self-harm and stigma have been replaced by hope, self-care and acceptance. Established in 2006, Pieta provides the following services: Crisis Helpline, Therapy Services, Bereavement Support, Education & Training, and LGBTQ+ Services.

You can find out more about Pieta here

Remember Us is a social group for people with special needs and their families. Remember Us provides Activity Programs four times a week, and respite programmes and summer camps for families. Remember Us operates across North Dublin. They aim to provide an integrated social environment for people with special needs to learn, form friendships, have fun, and develop social and life skills, and much more.

You can find out more about Remember Us here

SERVE is an international development and volunteering organisation offering Global Citizenship Education and Volunteer Opportunities in India, Zambia, Mozambique and locally here in Ireland.

You can find out more about Serve here

STAND mobilises third-level students to stand up for global justice, equality and sustainability. They provide volunteering opportunities as Stand News Contributors.

You can find out more about Stand here

SVP is one of Ireland’s largest and oldest charities. SVP strives for an Ireland without poverty where everyone can meet their basic needs, access opportunities and live with dignity. They provide many volunteering opportunities including in their Vincent’s Shops, Children & Family Services, Home Visits, and Social Housing.

You cand find out more about St Vincent de Paul here

Trócaire tackles the root causes of poverty overseas. An important part of their work is raising awareness in Ireland. Trócaire want people in Ireland to care about global justice, but also to understand the factors that cause people to live in poverty, such as climate change, conflict and injustice.

You can find out more about Trocáire here

VSI is the Irish branch of Service Civil International, a worldwide peace movement that began in 1920. We work to promote peace, social justice, sustainable development, and intercultural understanding through volunteering abroad and in Ireland.

You can find our more about Voluntary Service International here