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Articles & Reports
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Rural volunteerism: impacting development and sustainability

This report explores the role of volunteering in rural communities, focusing on its contribution to local development and sustainability. It examines how volunteer involvement supports community resilience, social connection and service delivery in rural settings.

The findings highlight the importance of volunteering in maintaining community infrastructure and strengthening long term sustainability outcomes in rural areas.

Benefits for volunteer managers

  • understand volunteering impact in rural communities
  • demonstrate value of volunteering to stakeholders and funders.
  • strengthen community resilience and social cohesion through volunteering
  • informs planning for sustainable volunteer involvement.

How to apply this resource

This resource is most useful when designing or evaluating volunteer programs in rural settings, supporting community development initiatives, or strengthening advocacy for volunteer contributions.

Downloads and sources

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More about the authors

National organisation supporting volunteering and volunteer-involving organisations across Ireland.
info@volunteer.ie Contact Volunteer Ireland
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Irish public university providing higher education and research with a focus on community and civic engagement.
info@universityofgalway.ie +353 91 524411 Contact University of Galway
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