Volunteering is on the increase in Westmeath

While the country's economic downturn continues, Westmeath has seen a significant increase in the number of people who are volunteering in local communities.

The Westmeath Volunteer Centre has said that, in the first six months of 2013, over 14,000 volunteer hours were logged by the people of the Lake County.

This is double the amount of time logged during the same period in 2012.

“We in the volunteer centre are delighted with this incredible increase in the time that everyone has given in the community” said Ian O’Flynn, Manager of the Westmeath Volunteer Centre.

“Since our establishment in 2006 we have now registered over 1,700 people in the volunteer centre, with over 500 registering in 2012 and 2013.

'Over 320 organisations are now registered with us and this upswing in hours is testament to the them for creating opportunities for volunteers and also the commitment that volunteers are prepared to give”.

The Westmeath Volunteer Centre is a project within Westmeath Community Development funded by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.

For more information, visit: www.volunteerwestmeath.ie