Record-breaking amount of students attend Louth Volunteer Centre's conference

Over 740 secondary school students gathered for Louth Volunteer Centre’s sixth annual Schools Volunteering Conference and Fair at the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk - a 17% increase on last year’s  attendance.

The event, which took place on October 7th and 8th, showcased the growing enthusiasm among young people to give back to their communities, gain new skills, and explore volunteering opportunities with local charities and groups.

The annual fair has become a cornerstone of Louth’s volunteering calendar, a vibrant, one-stop  opportunity for Transition Year students to meet a diverse range of local charities, community groups, and voluntary organisations. 

Students discovered how they can make a difference, develop life skills, and join  Ireland’s thriving youth volunteering movement.

“The atmosphere was electric,” said Kayleigh Mulligan, Manager of Louth Volunteer Centre.

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“Each year, the  energy, passion, and curiosity of students continues to grow. We are seeing a generation that truly  understands the power of volunteering — for their communities, their wellbeing, and their futures.”

This year’s fair featured organisations such as: 

• Academy of Success and Happiness 

• Culture Migrants Centre 

• Irish Girl Guides 

• Somali Irish Community Development Association 

• Outcomers LGBT+ Support Service 

• Youth Work Ireland Louth 

• Gaisce – The President’s Award 

• ALONE 

• Dundalk Library Service 

• MS Ireland Louth Branch 

• Irish Wheelchair Association (Dundalk Branch)

Special guest Mike “Geansaí” McNicholas returned by popular demand, performing an original song written for the event and sharing how volunteering and creativity supported his mental health journey. 

Interactive workshops explored themes such as: 

• Five Ways to Wellbeing Through Volunteering 

• Building Your CV: Turning Volunteer Experience into Career Skills 

• Leadership, Community & Personal Growth 

A panel discussion on “Volunteering as a Route to Personal and Professional Growth” featured  contributors from Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) and the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI),  who highlighted the national momentum behind youth civic engagement. 

Irish youth volunteering continues to thrive through initiatives like Gaisce – The President’s Award, Young  Social Innovators (YSI), and Community Volunteers Ireland. 

“It’s not just about helping others,” added Kayleigh. “It’s about giving young people a sense of belonging  and purpose. We’re proud that Louth is leading the way in empowering students to make a difference.” 

Co-funded by Louth County Council and supported by Louth Community Volunteers, the event once again  showcased the county’s collaborative spirit, with volunteers packing goodie bags and assisting with logistics  throughout the day. 

Louth Volunteer Centre said it plans to expand its Volunteer Ambassadors Programme, encouraging more schools  to establish student-led volunteering projects. Students also learned how to register on I-VOL, Ireland’s  national volunteering database, to access ongoing and future opportunities. 

“If the enthusiasm we saw this year is anything to go by,” said Kayleigh, “the future of volunteering in Louth  — and Ireland — is in safe hands.”