Waterford’s Welcome Ambassadors will make their much anticipated return to the city and county in 2022. The programme will be coordinated by Waterford Area Partnership and the newly established Waterford Volunteer Centre.
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the successful volunteer ambassador programme which started as part of the 2011 Tall Ships Festival. The ambassadors have returned each summer and have also taken part in both the Winterval and Harvest festivals, adding to the friendly Waterford welcome.
some very special memories
Catherine Power, Waterford Area Partnership Team Lead, initiated and coordinated the ambassadors. She says the volunteers helped make the 2011 Waterford Tall Ships Festival a resounding success: “Waterford experienced another world and it is great for us to look back and reminisce. Waterford Area Partnership has some very special memories of all who volunteered as our Welcome Ambassadors during the festival.”
Catherine Power added: “I have memories of friendships, walking tours, learning about our history and amenities that brought the ambassadors together as a community. Even today, I meet those who were ambassadors and we still talk about the Tall Ships Races Festival. It was the first time that such an initiative was developed in Waterford but the vision and passion of our voluntary organising committee made it happen. As ambassadors, volunteers greeted visitors to the festival by giving information on all aspects of Waterford, stewarding events including the parade and Captain’s Dinner and supporting the festival office.”
first time that such an initiative was developed in Waterford
Waterford Area Partnership thanks all who have volunteered since 2011 and looks forward to 2022 and the return of the programme with Waterford Volunteer Centre.
The Waterford Welcome Ambassador programme is currently paused due to Covid-19. Traditionally, the programme runs every weekend for 12 weeks from June to September and on cruise ship days during the summer months. Welcome Ambassadors are on duty in pairs for approximately three hours every second weekend.
