About Focus Ireland: Challenging homelessness. Changing lives.
Focus Ireland works with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes across Ireland. We are driven by the fundamental belief that homelessness is wrong. Wrong because it is a failure of society that creates victims out of ordinary people and robs them of their potential. Wrong because it can be prevented, it can be solved but is allowed to continue and in doing so, undermines society. Focus Ireland’s strategy outlines that the real solutions to this crisis lie in preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place and ensuring that they have helped to stay in their home once they have found one.
What's Involved
Would you like to support young people to gain a better understanding of homelessness? Are you good at IT?
Focus Ireland is recruiting School Talk Ambassadors to deliver online talks to schools nationwide.
The School Talks Programme was established in 2011 with the aim to raise awareness on the issue of homelessness in Ireland, promoting social integration and encouraging secondary schools to become actively involved.
Our Vision
We believe that young people have extraordinary potential to create positive change in our society. The programme promotes inclusion and equity, providing students with an understanding of homelessness, but also awareness of this reality among young people through reflection and empathy.
The ongoing pandemic has brought new scenarios and challenges but has also highlighted the ongoing structural problems behind homelessness and the increasing number of families and young people becoming homeless.
The School Programme has been redeveloped to support students and schools in this new scenario, with engaging online talks and a new catalogue of educational resources.
Time Commitment Required
For the 2022/2023 Academic Year Volunteers are required to give a minimum commitment for 2 hours a week.
What's required for this position
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to empathize with the cause and connect with teenagers.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to Focus Ireland’s mission.
• Experience in delivering school workshops or programmes is not essential but preferable. All training will be provided.
• Available to deliver talks during school hours
- Advocacy/ Lobbyist
- Community Development/ Social work
- Education/ Training
- Personable Skills
- Youth/ Childcare
Level of English required for this role:
Fluent English
Times and commitment required for this role
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Minimum time commitment: 1 year
Hours required: 2hrs Weekly
Other Details
Location of volunteering opportunity:
Online
Supporting schools nationwide
Also available in these counties
Meath, Offaly, Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Kilkenny, Sligo, Waterford
Screening details for this role:
- Garda Vetting
- Informal Interviews
- References
- Application Form
Volunteers will be provided with the following supports:
- Support/ advice/ recognition
- Supervision
- Initial induction and training
- Insurance cover
Age restrictions:
Over 18
Is this opportunity suitable for groups/teams of volunteers?
No
Benefits you will receive as a volunteer
This will be an opportunity to build up your work experience and to work in and learn about the voluntary sector. You will have the chance to contribute towards the personal development of the young students you will be working with in schools.
