Charity Shop Volunteering Program in Ireland

Airport Transfer
Participants are picked up by a driver who will be waiting with a sign displaying the participants’ name. Participants are transferred to a hostel accommodation located in Cork city center.

Volunteers who arrive at a different airport (Dublin or Shannon) need to make their own way to Cork. It is very easy to arrive at Cork city from Dublin airport as there are buses from just outside the arrival terminal in Dublin that go directly to Cork city center (aircoach.ie). Participants are picked up from their point of entry in Cork (bus station or train station).

It is preferable to book a flight that arrives before 2pm in Dublin airport not to miss the welcome dinner!

If a participant arrives earlier than the arrival date, they should arrange their accommodation and transfer themselves.

Orientation
On the morning of the second day, participants are met by the coordinating staff at the hostel reception and will walk to the Cork Volunteer Centre where the orientation workshop takes place.

The orientation workshop lasts approximately 3.5h and includes the following topics:

• Sharing and discussing fears and expectations

• Exploring motivations

• Skills and attitudes to make the program a success

• Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders(sender/host/volunteer)

• Lines of communication

• Potential challenges

• Introduction to Irish culture

• Cultural adaptation, culture shock and inter-cultural competences

• Cultural adaptation in the Irish context

• Practical tips for a successful voluntary service

• Health issues

• Safety and security, risk mitigation

• Overview of what to do during free time

After the orientation workshop and their lunch, participants take part in a 2 hour walking tour of Cork City. During the tour, they are provided with practical advice, cultural and historical information.

At the end of the tour, participants are brought to the bus or train station and go to their project location. In some cases, depending on the location and availability of project mentor, the transfer could be done the following morning.

Accommodation & Meals
On arrival in Cork, volunteers are provided accommodation at a hostel in the city.The hostel is located in the city center, a very short walk from all the shops and attractions of the city.

Hostel facilities:

• Bed in shared dormitory bedrooms (4 to 8 beds per room)

• Free Wi-Fi all over the hostel so you can stay in touch wherever you are

• Free Home Cinema with big plasma screen, comfy beanbags

• In-House Sauna

• Always Open Coffee Dock and shop

• Personal Lockers

While on the project, volunteers will live in local host family accommodation allowing you to get a real sense of life in an Irish family and community.Staying with a host family allows participants to be fully immersed within the Irish culture. Our local team in Ireland has developed a network of host communities in different part of the country. Host communities are managed by the local coordinators who deal with local families. Every host family goes through a thorough selection process, we make sure our participants are placed with welcoming and supportive hosts. Host families come in different shapes and sizes: e.g. parents and children with a spare room, a single host mother, or a retired couple. Families give participants an instant support system and help them learn the local language and culture. Most host families offer participants generally their own single room. On occasion participants might have to share a bedroom with another participant from the same gender. Many families are living at a walking distance from the projects while others can be based a bit further out of town. In this case volunteers are either given lifts, use bicycles or local transportation (cost not included in program fees).

Meals will be provided along with a packed lunch as needed.

The host family provides breakfast (cereals or toasts, hot drink etc.), packed lunch (sandwiches, fruit etc.) and hot dinner in the evening (e.g. pasta, sausages, potatoes, pizza etc.). It is possible to cater for vegetarians (this information is subject to change, please check with us).

During your Free Time
Ireland is a wonderful place to visit. From vibrant, exciting cities like Dublin, Cork or Galway or Belfast to breath-taking landscapes along the Wild Atlantic Way. Attractions include the world-famous sceneries of Connemara and West Cork, the ring of Kerry, the cliffs of Moher, the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin etc. There are also a multitude of less touristy but equally interesting places to visit and activities to do such as whale watching in county Cork! Local staff will give participants further information on visits and excursions during their orientation and in the welcome pack.

Volunteers will have the weekends to explore. During your free time, volunteers can discover the countryside around Clonmel, Tipperary region. They can visit famous attractions such as the Rock of Cashel Castle and Cahir Castle.