The Ireland InVOLved Awards shine a light on the valuable contribution made by volunteers in and from the Republic of Ireland. The campaign, officially launched on the 29th September by MEP Marian Harkin, has elicited a fantastic response, illustrating the diverse and colourful activities that volunteers engage in, the passion and commitment they have for their area of interest and the difference they make in the lives of so many. In organising the awards, nominations were invited in 10 categories. These categories were determined by the focus of the work of the organisation associated with the volunteer activity and included:

• Arts, Culture and Media
• Sports and Recreation
• Health and Disability
• Children and Young People
• Campaigning and Awareness Raising
• Community
• Education and Training
• Social Work
• Animals and Environment
• International Development

Once the nomination came back to Volunteering Ireland, a team of our own volunteers helped to short list three individuals in each category from almost 100 nominations that came in for this first year event. Our judges were then asked to make some difficult decisions by selecting both the award winners in each category along with the overall volunteer who will go on to represent Ireland on a European stage. Federation Francaise du Benevolat Associatif (FFBA) is organising a European Award for Voluntary Contribution (Trophée Européen de Benevolat). The overall awardee announced this evening will go forward to the European Parliament in Strasbourg where their work will be recognised and honoured. From this point, a panel of judges will select three volunteers to receive the highest honours for their contributions on a European level. This evening is about recognising the work of nominees as well as celebrating all the volunteer activity that is happening throughout Ireland and being undertaken overseas by people form Ireland. Thanks to all those ordinary people working so hard across the country. This night is for you!

The Winners in Campaining and Awareness Raising category:

Liz Powell & Rosaleen Molloy, Mental Health Ireland, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

Liz Powell and Rosaleen Molloy, teamed up with Mental Health Ireland to launch Ireland’s first National Choral Singing Day to mark World Mental Health Day on Friday, 10th October last. The aim was to get choirs and would be singers throughout the country to come together to experience the therapeutic benefits of singing with others in formal choirs, organised groups, with workmates, in the home or school and have a lot of fun along the way. The underlying message was that singing together and indeed any group leisure or social activity is good for your mental health and everybody needs to do more to develop positive mental health attitudes. The results were overwhelming – over 80 choirs participated in venues around the country – schools, churches, nursing homes, day centres to name but a few! It is now hoped, as a result of this initiative to make it a national event from 2009 onwards. So in effect both Liz Powell and Rasaleen Molloy became volunteers for Mental Health Ireland for this specific project. While the profile of the organisation was raised, we are hopeful that we will gain a few new volunteers from the initiative. Rosaleen saw the opportunity to develop the idea into a national event. Equally too, she felt that it was not all about money, but about people volunteering their time and skills while promoting a serious message about mental health. The response to the call and the results of the events around the country confirm that this was truly a unique and forward thinking idea.