New to the community - getting to know Kilkenny through volunteering

The Kilkenny Volunteer Centre is dedicated to fostering a vibrant Kilkenny society where everyone feels connected through active participation in voluntary activities.

Among the various services offered by Kilkenny Volunteer Centre to both organisations and volunteers is the recruitment and retention of volunteers. To do this we work closely with local organisations to develop meaningful volunteering roles that matches with individual volunteers needs.

Over the years, Kilkenny Volunteer Centre has seen significant changes.
Volunteers are offered appointments with our Volunteering Development officer, who in turn can access volunteer’s requirements and can recommend appropriate organisations roles that are available to them.

Current research indicates that volunteering enhances community strength and improves the well-being of individual volunteers through their connection to the local community.



Kilkenny Volunteer Centre have witnessed firsthand the advantages for both volunteers and local organisations, enhancing their capacity to do more impactful work by creating meaningful volunteering roles for volunteers.

“Having moved to Kilkenny from Wicklow, I found volunteering to be a fantastic way to familiarise myself with the city and get to know people. I volunteered with the Kilkenny Arts Festival during my first couple of years here in Kilkenny and I am now currently involved with the Irish Girl Guides,” shares Paula Harte from Kilkenny Volunteer Centre.

Kilkenny Volunteer Centre has worked closely with local organisations since its inception and in particular to support the integration of volunteers who are now new to Kilkenny.

Once such organisation locally is Keep Kilkenny Beautiful.
Keep Kilkenny Beautiful committee was founded in 1980, is part of a vibrant City community. The committee works in partnership with the city’s citizens, local authority and county manager, businesses and voluntary bodies, enhancing our city and creating a wonderful place to live.

KKB has been a beacon of social inclusion, welcoming many new volunteers of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds to participate in litter picks, balsam bashes, clean-ups, painting, and tree planting over the years.

Since 2021, Kilkenny Volunteer Centre have successfully signposted over 70 volunteers to Keep Kilkenny Beautiful and collaborated together on local community engagement projects.

Prince, a volunteer new to Kilkenny from Zimbabwe, who has been involved in various initiatives, since he came to Kilkenny, told us: “Keep Kilkenny Beautiful was and continues to be incredibly welcoming and has helped us immensely as first-time volunteers. They are kind, humble, and I refer to them as my 'other family.’ I can’t fault them; they've been like parents to us here in Kilkenny and have greatly assisted me in settling in. I can sincerely say the same about the Volunteer Centre who made it all possible. Thank you very much.”

Kilkenny Volunteer Centre had the privilege of partnering on a recent mural project in 2024, where our community volunteers joined forces with the local Closh Area Residents Committee and KKB for tree / bulb planting in the area, supported each other with the designing and painting of the walls for the mural, supported the launch of the project and the general up keep of the area.

This initiative provided a fantastic opportunity for local residents, as well as newcomers to Kilkenny, to come together and contribute to the community with a shared purpose.
Kilkenny Community Volunteers are a corps of individuals who come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds including Ukrainian, Italian, Algerian, Pakistani, Nigerian, Irish, Zimbabwean, Jordanian, Somalian.

“We are thrilled to support volunteers from all new communities arriving in Kilkenny. I am proud of the warm welcome they have received from our existing volunteers. Volunteers have been an invaluable resource to Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, and we look forward to continuing our collaborations with the Kilkenny Volunteer Centre,” says Maria Dollard, Chairperson of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful .

A key aspect of Kilkenny Volunteer Centre’s support for individuals new to Kilkenny and the organisations they collaborate with has been their membership with the local Community Integration Forum.

Kilkenny Community Integration Forum, chaired by Kilkenny County Council, brings together representatives from agencies operating across County Kilkenny, to coordinate a community-led response and support for all new communities resettling in Co. Kilkenny.

The aim of group is to promote and support integration, equality, social inclusion, and civic participation for those families and individuals who come to Kilkenny.
To find our more about volunteering in your area or if you are looking for support with your volunteers contact www.volunteerkilkenny.ie or info@volunteerkilkenny.ie
Contact integration@kilkennycoco.ie to find out more about the Kilkenny Community Integration Forum.