Buddy Network Training

Limerick City Volunteering Initiative Community & Voluntary Sector

Buddy Network

PAUL Partnership is establishing a Buddy Network within the Community and Voluntary sector in Limerick City.  The overall aim of the Network is to develop and support a network of Buddies.  The Network will provide peer support to new voluntary members of decision-making structures including management committees of community groups, environment and residents associations, sport and leisure clubs, culture and heritage groups, sectoral interest groups, youth and disability organisations.

The first step in establishing a Buddy Network is to provide training for individuals Volunteers and to develop an Organisation Buddy Policy.  The South and Mid West Community Development Support Agency have been contracted by PAUL to deliver this training.

The programme is specifically designed for:

• Volunteer Committee Members of decision making structures
• Volunteer Members of Voluntary Management Committees
• Volunteer Committee Members of Clubs, Groups Societies, Organisations and Associations. 

The training materials have been sourced from a variety of mentoring, peer support and Buddy training programmes both from Ireland and abroad.  There has been a very positive response from the first group of Volunteer Buddies who have finished the training programme.

The training programme consisting of two full-days is now being offered.  The course is FREE.  It will be held on Monday and Tuesday the 9^th and 10^th of November 2009 in the offices of the South & Mid West Support Agency, Ashbourne Hall, Dock Road, Limerick.  It starts at 9:30 am and will finish at 4:00 pm with lunch provided.

If you or someone in your organisation is interested in availing of this training, please complete and return the application form as soon as possible.  Closing date for applications will be Friday 23^rd October 2009.   Please note that the number of places is limited to 15.  Efforts will be made to ensure that a variety of different geographic communities as well as communities of interest are represented among the participants.