The Awards
The Ireland Involved Awards is part of a European-wide initiative to recognise the work of volunteers. On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, Fédération Française du Bénévolat et de la vie Associative (FFBA) organises the European Award for Voluntary Contribution (Trophée Européen du Bénévolat) under the high patronage of the French President M. Nicholas Sarkozy. You can view the results of last year’s European Award for Voluntary contribution on the website of the European Forum of Voluntary Work.
History of the Ireland Involved Awards
In December 2007 FFBA held the first annual European Forum on Community Life and Voluntary Work and hosted a representative from Volunteering Ireland in Strasbourg who presented facts and figures about volunteering in Ireland along with many representatives from across Europe. The Volunteering Ireland representative spoke in front of over 300 individuals for across Europe on International Volunteer Day 2007 at the European Parliament. After the presentation Volunteering Ireland was awarded a trophy by the French Minister of Sport, Bernard Laporte, on behalf of the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy for our work in the area of social inclusion and volunteering.
The inaugural 2008 Ireland Involved Awards were a national success, supported by members of the government and voluntary sector and covered by the national press. Thirty volunteers were honoured at a celebration at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, with special guests that included Claire Byrne, Newstalk; Minister Pat Carey, Government Chief Whip; Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Eibhlin Byrne; Marian Harkin, MEP; and Fergus Finlay, CEO Barnardos. Marie Carroll of Bayside Gymnastics was selected as Irish Volunteer of the Year for her contributions to society.
After last year’s inaugural Ireland Involved Awards, Marie Carroll and Volunteering Ireland attended the European Forum on Community Life and Voluntary Work. Carroll was presented in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where her work was showcased in a 5 minute film along with the work of volunteers from countries all across Europe. She was awarded the Bronze level recognition for her contribution to Irish Society and ultimately to European Society.