Shannon Highlights the great volunteer work carried out in communities throughout Strangford during Westminster Hall debate
Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford, has highlighted the tremendous hours of volunteer work held in community centres and halls throughout Strangford during a Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday 25 March.
During the debate Shannon said: “in 2024-25, just under 46% of adults in Northern Ireland volunteered formally or informally.
“If those figures do not tell us about the people of Northern Ireland, nothing will. Those who formally volunteer in Northern Ireland frequently offer high levels of commitment, with 23% volunteering for eight to 16 hours in a four-week period.
“The average church volunteer in Northern Ireland contributes approximately 13 hours a month. Church and faith-based organisations are the most common type of volunteering in the region, with some 39% of all volunteers identifying that as their primary sector.
“For a medium-sized church with roughly 120 adults, for example, the annual value of volunteer time is estimated at just under £250,000.”
Jim Shannon added: “None of those community groups or churches is looking for a pat on the back. They are offering a service; they are doing something above and beyond what people need them to do—but they do it.
“They are not seeking any form of recognition for giving up their weekends to provide children and teenagers with somewhere safe to meet their friends and hang out. They do, however, need some support to keep the lights on.
“With the cost of energy rising, even those groups that are blessed to have their own facilities need more support to provide, not an all-singing, all-dancing programme—although I know they would like to—but warmth, light and insurance. That is where Government need to step in in a helpful way.
“The hoops that volunteers and churches have to jump through to receive a small amount of funding are sometimes off-putting. Those processes must be simplified and made easier to access.
“In this energy crisis, we look to the Minister to consider provision of additional support for the voluntary sector to keep the lights on, keep the elderly and our kids safe, and keep the community knitted together. All that money—every penny—will be well spent.”
“I will continue press for our community groups and churches who need support to continue the excellent work that they carry out – the value of which is priceless”
