The Galway Simon Community are committed to empowering and working with people who are homeless by campaigning and providing the highest possible standards of care. Volunteers provide a core element of this service as they enhance and support paid staff in the work they do towards this goal.

We recruit volunteers to live and work in our communities for a minimum period of six months. During this time the volunteer will work in a Simon project as a voluntary member of the staff team. The tasks are varied but on an average shift the volunteer will find themselves involved in the general household and administration duties associated with project work.

However the most important aspect of this work is the development of positive working relationships with the people who use our services. The work will include advocating on behalf of people, supporting people in leisure activities and where necessary assisting people with physical needs.

What will you have to do?

  • Develop working relationships with residents / befriending
  • Co-key work residents, i.e. work with a resident on a particular aspect of their life.
  • Crisis intervention.
  • Advocate, where appropriate, on behalf of residents.
  • Provide physical care to older or infirm residents i.e.
  • Work as part of a team.
  • Maintain administrative records.
  • Maintaining a safe and hygienic working and living environment.
  • Liaising with outside agencies.
  • Accompanying residents on appointments.
  • Reception and reporting duties.
  • With residents, arranging leisure activities.

What do they offer?

  • Free Accomodation and meals
  • Pocket money(100 euro/week)
  • Certificate in Professional Development from Dublin Institute of Technology (10ECTS)
  • 2 weeks holiday with allowance
  • Preparation
  • Training
  • One to one support
  • Regular Feedback
  • International team

We recruit people from all walks of life and from many parts of the world. Currently our volunteers tend to be young people who choose to do this work to gain experience in social work or to grow as individuals or to take time out from study or paid work and gain new skills. While we don’t ask that our volunteers have previous experience or particular qualifications we do look for personal qualities such as adaptability, empathy and a commitment to social justice.