Volunteer Members

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer with Special Olympics Ireland.  Anyone, aged 15 or above, can register to volunteer with us. All volunteers must complete Safeguarding training before they can volunteer.

There are a few steps in becoming a volunteer:

1. Complete Expression of Interest
2. Have a brief chat with us
3. Create a profile on our Membership System
4. Submit Documentation for verification by SOI
5. Complete Vetting (16+)
6. Complete Safeguarding
7. Take a short induction course
8. When you have completed Safeguarding, Volunteer induction and vetting (16+), you will receive notification that you are eligible to volunteer

We are here to support you every step of the way.

Once you have created a profile on our Membership system, you will be asked to:

• Enter personal details
• Provide some documentation
• Upload a Passport sized quality photograph 
• Provide emergency contact details
• Provide two referees
• Read and acknowledge our Volunteer Agreement
• Upload a Safeguarding certificate if you have one or sign up to a Safeguarding course

Volunteers who are under 18 must provide Parental Consent.

Volunteers aged 16 and above are vetted through the National Vetting Bureau. 

Volunteers must complete a Republic of Ireland ID Validation form, along with submitting identity documents. This form must be witnessed (details of witnesses are provided on the form), then uploaded along with copies of the documents that were witnessed (photos will suffice).

Once we have verified these documents, we will forward your application to the National Vetting Bureau (NVB). You will then receive an email from the NVB. Please have your addresses from birth to hand along with your passport number, before clicking on the link within the email. The link stays valid for 30 days.

Vetting is valid for 3 years, after this time you will be asked undergo vetting to renew your membership.

Volunteers aged 16 and above must firstly apply for an enhanced disclosure through AccessNI, complete and have witnessed an ID Validation and AccessNI Invitation form(you can access the form below), create a profile on our membership system and complete an applicant volunteer journey (which includes uploading the ID Validation and AccessNI invitation form).

Special Olympics Ireland’s Policy on Handling, Storage and Disposal of AccessNI Disclosure Information and our Policy on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders can be viewed from our website: Special Olympics Ireland | Safeguarding

Vetting is valid for 3 years, after this time you will be asked to reapply for an enhanced disclosure from AccessNI.

All volunteers must hold a valid Safeguarding certificate.

If you already hold a Safeguarding certificate accredited by Sport Ireland or Sport NI, you can upload this during your membership journey otherwise you will be provided with a link to sign up for a Safeguarding course.

Please note we cannot accept TUSLA, HSE or NHS certificates as they are not sport specific.