The Investing in Community Volunteers Programme is already proving a major success for volunteers, committee members and staff working across the community and voluntary sector in the district. With hundreds of people benefiting from free training since the beginning of this year.
The programme is being delivered by a partnership led by Fermanagh Trust, alongside Youth Action NI, Rural Community Network, Omagh Forum for Rural Associations, Omagh Volunteer Centre and Volunteer Now.
The ‘Investing in Community Volunteers’ Programme is one of 13 programmes as detailed in the Fermanagh and Omagh PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan. The Local Action Plan has been developed by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Now months into delivery, more than 400 people have already signed up to take part in the free in-person training programme, with many participants reporting that the courses are helping them develop personally as well as strengthening the organisations and groups they support.
There is still time to get involved, with a wide range of courses continuing to run until June. In-person training includes sessions on fundraising, forming and strengthening committees, inclusion and equality, safeguarding, managing community halls and facilities, volunteer recruitment and retention, social media for community organisations, and practical digital skills such as using AI tools and Canva.
Alongside face-to-face learning, over 600 people are now actively using the programme’s extensive suite of more than 250 free online courses, giving volunteers and staff flexible access to learning at a time and pace that suits them.
Sonya Johnston, Deputy Director of Fermanagh Trust, said “This programme is already having a really positive impact across Fermanagh and Omagh. We are getting great feedback from those taking part in the training, who tell us that it is helping them build confidence, develop new skills and making a real difference within their organisations and communities. Spaces on upcoming courses are filling rapidly, so I would encourage anyone interested to get booked on as soon as possible.”
For more information and to register for upcoming courses, visit CLICK HERE or email communityvolunteering@fermanaghtrust.org.