Supported Volunteering. Working Together

This project is a collaboration between the Discipline of Occupational Therapy at TCD and the Health Service Executive. Individuals using community mental health and/or homeless services are supported to engage in volunteering activities by occupational therapy students as part of their community-engaged learning module. The project has been conducted across three phases.

• Phase 1 involved peer researchers in Focus Ireland exploring the need and desire for the project amongst individuals with experience of homelessness and/or mental health challenges.
• Guided by Phase 1 findings, Phase 2 focused on developing training to prepare student and service-user dyads to volunteer as peer supports, and, included data collection pre and post a six-week pilot project in which the dyads volunteered together in local Vision Ireland charity shops.
• In Phase 3 the project was adapted based on the findings of Phase 2; peer supported volunteering was extended across the whole academic year, and enhanced supports for student and service user dyads were introduced.

The project has demonstrated the feasibility of supported volunteering as an emerging model of promoting social and community participation. It provides unique learning opportunities for occupational therapy students, using engaged pedagogies to work in partnership to build the skills required for collaborative occupational participation.

The Supported Volunteering: Working Together project was the winner of the prestigious AOTI Ann Beckett Award 2024. It is ongoing and is aiming to expand its reach in relation to increasing the variety of volunteering opportunities offered to dyads as well as expanding the project to include individuals from additional health and social care services.  

Research Team

Dr Leonie Boland, Dr Sarah Quinn, Eilish King.

Project Collaborators

Focus Ireland, Volunteer Ireland