Environmental and Conservation Projects

VIP offers placements in a range of environmental and conservation organizations whose aims range from increasing environmental awareness to actual conservation of buildings, gardens and the protection of natural heritage. Volunteering in one of these projects means that those passionate about conservation and the environment can make a real difference.

Leades Environmental Awareness Project

The 250-acre Leades House estate was owned by the Woodley family from the mid-17th century to 1981, when it was purchased by the Wolfe family. In 1997 work began on the deteriorating house and gardens to restore them to their former grandeur. The main activities at Leades House focus on environmental awareness and programs are offered to visitors to learn about the related topics.

Ideal Volunteer

Needs to be an adaptable flexible type of person.  They would They would need to enjoy teamwork and also work well as an individual, as well as outdoor work and rural living.

Length of Stay:  4 to 12 weeks

Expected Tasks

A variety of tasks depending on which area (listed below) that the volunteer is placed in.
* Organic kitchen garden: Harvesting, planting, clearing and planning
* Victorian gardens: Planting, clearing, weeding, cutting grass and clearing streams
* On the farm: Looking after animals, cows, pigs, sheep, horses, chickens, ducks and dog, milking cows and herding them as part of a team, setting up feeds in winter. Also cleaning up old farm buildings, painting and decorating.
* In the forest: Planting trees, cutting and collecting wood for heating.

Assisting those with Disabilities

VIP works with one of the longest established organizations in Ireland serving those with physical disabilities – Cheshire Ireland has 19 service centers.  Cheshire Ireland, provides quality accommodation and support to adults with primarily physical disabilities.

St. Laurence Cheshire Home, Glanmire, Co.Cork and O’Dwyer Cheshire Home, have been hosting volunteers for many years and there is the possibility of placements in Kerry and Dublin.

Founded in 1976, the home is built on the grounds of the late Hon. Paul O’ Dwyer, lawyer, long time activist and human rights campaigners ancestral home. The Cheshire Home is home to over 30 service users with varying degrees of physical disabilities.

Expected tasks

This purpose of this volunteer project is to support the social integration of adults with physical disabilities. Volunteers help with social activities to integrate service users into the local community. Service users attend courses and need assistance from volunteers daily.

Additionally, the home has an activities and excursions program, mainly led by volunteers. Some typical programs include computer, music and cooking classes, speech therapy, drama and art workshops (including displays), gardening and life skills coaching.

Ideal Volunteer

* Be 18 years of age at time of application
* Have a developed understanding of physical disability and related issues
* A genuine interests in working with adults with physical disabilities
* Will be happy interacting with staff

Length of Stay:  8 – 12 weeks

Community Work in Resource Centers

Volunteers can be placed in bookshops and resource hubs with act as bases for local Christian organizations and which provide funds for charitable work with communities.

These bookshops are run by staff and volunteers from various backgrounds and nations. These projects are run by faith-based organizations (Christian) but the only requirement regarding faith is that volunteers are asked to respect the ethos of the organization.  Most centers run diverse activities including: bookshop and resource hub, outreach events with youth and community groups, farming etc.

Expected Tasks

The focus of the volunteer work can vary significantly according to the period of the year.  Volunteer activities include administration, sales, fundraising, etc. Children and youth outreach happens from August to December.

The project helps run children’s camps in July and volunteers are involved in the organization of these camps. Farming work is seasonal and happens in the winter months.

Ideal Volunteer

Volunteers are required to be adaptable, flexible people.  They will join a group of volunteers comprised of people from different backgrounds, countries and cultures. All the people involved in the project live in a community.  One of the main goals of the project is to become aware and open to different ways of living and thinking.  Volunteers need to be able to partake in teamwork, but personal motivation, maturity and responsibility are also important.
Minimum Length of Stay:  8 weeks