About Conversation Salons
Conversation Salons are relaxed informal café style gatherings that bring together people of different backgrounds, ages, nationalities and worldviews for interesting and uplifting conversation on lots of different topics. We want Ireland to be a more connected, friendly, inclusive, socially engaged place!
Conversation Salons are all about getting people away from their phones and screens, having real face-to-face conversations with people in your community, moving away from chit chat and getting to talk about things you really care about, all about human connection and welcoming in all types of people and celebrating what a diverse country Ireland is and how interesting people are once you invite them to share their stories, ideas and life experiences.
What's Involved
Do you like meeting new people and organising inspiring events? This could be the perfect opportunity for you!
If you would enjoy bringing different kinds of people together in a welcoming atmosphere to have enriching conversations, please join our team to run these events! We’d love you to help us:
• Reclaim face-to-face conversation in the digital age
• Revive the art of conversation
• Build community, connect people, create a sense of belonging
• Celebrate diversity
• Establish trusted welcoming community spaces
• Energise and inspire people through meaningful conversation
• Break down social barriers
Building on our success we want to expand. We are growing our team of volunteers and need people for the following roles:
Salon Host, the MC for each salon, they manage the event, do the welcome and introduction and explain the format, ground rules and ethos. They do the timekeeping, closure and compose the conversation menu. They also greet people as they arrive and introduce them to other attendees.
Admission/Sign In/Room Set Up/Clean Up, a front of house person who is vital to creating that warm welcome so important to our ethos.
Event Manager & Community Relations, this person will be key to our goal of setting up new salons in other areas and establishing more partnerships with cafes and other venues. This will involve building positive relationships and sourcing suitable venues and advertising our events in these new areas.
Social Media Executive to develop our social media strategy, represent our brand and do regular posting and updates on Facebook, Twitter, etc., creating new content and sourcing relevant existing content.
Social Researcher to carry out an impact survey of the outcomes for participants and record the ideas and insights that arise and the issues of greatest interest to attendees.
What's required for this position
We need lots of different skill sets but most important of all is that volunteers are passionate about the vision and ethos of Conversation Salons. They want to be part of creating a welcoming and inclusive community culture. Our Conversation Salons Team need people who are enthusiastic about connecting people and breaking down social barriers through meaningful conversation and enjoyable events.
A Conversation Salons Volunteer is someone who……..
• Is resourceful and committed
• Is organised and enjoys working in a team of volunteers
• Will put lots of energy into organising the salons and growing the project
• Everyone can count on to deliver and make sure everything is in place for each salon to be a great event.
All volunteers are asked to sign up to and commit to the values and ethos of the project.
Further Information available on our
Website
Facebook
Twitter
- Community Development/ Social work
- Education/ Training
- Event management/ Fundraising
- Hospitality/ Befriending
- Personable Skills
Level of English required for this role:
Fluent English
Times and commitment required for this role
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Minimum time commitment: 1 year
Hours required: 6hrs Fortnightly
Other Details
Location of volunteering opportunity:
Third Space Cafe, Unit 14 Block C, Smithfield, Dublin, D07 P440 (Wednesday evenings)
53 Avenue Bistro, 53 Collins Avenue East, Killester, Dublin 5, D05 HK18 (Tuesday evenings)
Central Cork location
Also available in these counties
Cork
Screening details for this role:
- Formal Interview
- References
- Application Form
Volunteers will be provided with the following supports:
- Support/ advice/ recognition
- Supervision
- Initial induction and training
- Reimbursement of expenses
Volunteers with the following challenges will be supported in this role
Age restrictions:
Over 18
Is this opportunity suitable for groups/teams of volunteers?
Yes
Benefits you will receive as a volunteer
You will be part of an enthusiastic team. You get training and support. It’s very rewarding to create welcoming inclusive community spaces that fight loneliness, break down social barriers and celebrate diversity. Salons are enjoyable fun feelgood events.
Getting there
View Smithfield location on Google Maps
View Killester location on Google Maps
