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Useful Links
Comhlamh - Volunteering Options
The Volunteering Options project in Comhlámh aims to promote informed decision making by potential volunteers and to develop good practice standards among volunteer sending organisations. In doing so, Comhlamh hopes to ensure that overseas volunteering has a positive impact: for the volunteer, the sending organisation, and the host organisation and community.
See Volunteering Options for more information
The Volunteer Charter sets out seven principles that aim to encourage responsible, responsive international volunteering. It contains lists of questions to help volunteers make a decision about volunteering abroad in a developing country.
Download the Volunteer Charter
The Code of Good Practice for Sending Organisations sets out the responsibilities of the Irish-based sending organisations that arrange volunteer placements. Signing up to this code shows that an organisation supports the principles of the Code. Download the Code of Practice
Garda Vetting
The An Garda Suichana Website has an excellent FAQ section about Garda Vetting. Please see this link for further information Garda Vetting
Many times, the question arises ‘ What is the difference between a Police Certificate which I can get from my local Garda Station and Garda Vetting? We have developed the following document to outline the difference between the two, which we hope you find helpful. Garda Vetting v Police Certificates
Setting the Standard
- A Common Approach to Child Protection for International NGO’s
These standards are designed to help agencies working internationally to safeguard the children with whom they or their partners work. They contain the minimum standards for child protection to be effective and a structure to help agencies think through the issues and develop their own approach to child protection.
The standards reflect the universal ‘duty of care’ that agencies owe children, as well as the difficulties agencies experience in developing protection measures due to the nature of the work and the cultural, legal and other differences that exist in different parts of the world. The standards set out in this document were developed by a steering group comprising the following members in the UK: Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, People in Aid, Every Child, Tearfund
Available to download here
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Built on varied legal systems and cultural traditions, the Convention is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations. These basic standards—also called human rights—set minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be respected by governments. They are founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual, regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth status or ability and therefore apply to every human being everywhere. With these rights comes the obligation on both governments and individuals not to infringe on the parallel rights of others. These standards are both interdependent and indivisible; we cannot ensure some rights without—or at the expense of—other rights.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Children First
These National Guidelines are intended to assist people in identifying and reporting child abuse. They aim, in particular, to clarify and promote mutual understanding among statutory and voluntary organisations about the contributions of different disciplines and professions to child protection. They emphasise that the needs of children and families must be at the centre of child care and child protection activity and that a partnership approach must inform the delivery of services. They also highlight the importance of consistency between policies and procedures across health boards and other statutory and voluntary organisations. They emphasise in particular that the welfare of children is of paramount importance. Children First, National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children
Our Duty to Care
Our Duty to Care, published by the Department of Children, is aimed at community and voluntary organisations of any size or type that provide services for children. It offers guidance on the promotion of child welfare and the development of safe practices in work with children. It also gives information on how to recognise signs of child abuse and the correct steps to take within organisations if it is suspected, witnessed or disclosed. Our Duty to Care, The Principles of Good Practice for the protection of children and young people
Safe Steps
Volunteer Canada's Safe Steps Screening Program provides an easy-to-use method for organizations to ensure that the people they serve are safe. The Safe Steps are much like a menu - you need only select those steps that apply specifically to positions within your organization. The key to a successful screening program is to use the steps in a way that best suits a specific position within your organization. Read more here
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