Across Ireland, the shift to remote work is unlocking new opportunities—not just for individuals, but for local communities. With increased flexibility and autonomy, remote professionals are contributing in tangible ways to civic life, donating their time and skills to support local initiatives.

At Grow Remote, we have been building a sustainable grassroots model since 2018 that aims to connect remote employees with community organisations, thus empowering people to contribute where they live and work.

Increased Community Activism

In March 2025, Grow Remote communities mobilised around the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day with a strong focus on local engagement and measurable outcomes. Collectively, our community raised more than €3,991. Through structured initiatives and local partnerships, Grow Remote supported 34 remote-working volunteers in eight locations nationwide across counties Dublin, Cork, Longford, and Wicklow. Remote employees coordinated and participated in an array of local events, including:

• A bake sale led by Melanie O’Donovan at K-Works in Kinsale, which raised €680.
• A collaborative fundraiser in Wicklow, where Becky Bury hosted her first pub quiz alongside the “New In  Wicklow” group, together reaching €2,000.
• A volunteer cohort in Kinsale, making up one-third of the day’s support team, contributing to a record €9,000 raised locally.
• Additional activities in Claremorris, Skerries, Balbriggan and Ballygarvan, where remote workers took part in organising and promoting fundraising efforts.

These events demonstrate the operational potential of remote professionals engaging in community projects. As Melanie from Kinsale reflected:

“Before remote work, I barely knew my neighbours,” shares Melanie from Kinsale. “Now I’m not just working from my community, I’m working for my community through events like Daffodil Day.”

Building Grassroots Momentum

The engagement sparked by Daffodil Day has continued to grow organically. Recent examples include:

• Volunteers from the Grow Remote community supported the Cork Simon Gala Ball, providing operational assistance within 24 hours of the request (the event raised €230,000 toward services for people experiencing homelessness!)
• Remote professionals got involved in Tidy Towns initiatives in Castlerea, Tullamore and Skerries, offering hands-on support and planning input.
• Members stepping up as stewards for local fitness events, including the Ardgillan Park Run and a community run in Cobh.

These efforts illustrate that remote workers are uniquely positioned to fill gaps in volunteer rosters, thanks to their flexible schedules and commitment to community impact.

According to the May 2022 report published by DETE, remote workers can save an average of 93 hours per year by virtue of reducing their commute. Grow Remote’s research, however, suggests that remote work can save employees up to 3 hours per day — this is time that can be reinvested into community participation. Nearly 1 in 4 people who work from home for some part of the week donate their time voluntarily – according to national organisation, Volunteer Ireland).

Supporting Local Leaders

To support this momentum, Grow Remote hosted a dedicated Local Leader Retreat in Munster, focused on enhancing the capacity of community leaders to design and deliver impactful initiatives. Key outcomes included:

• Training on how to engage with local volunteer centres and charities.
• Frameworks for developing new collaborations.
• Toolkits for executing successful events like Daffodil Day, adapted to different community needs.

The success of the retreat has prompted plans to deliver the same format in Leinster and extend the initiative nationwide over the coming quarters.

Community Milestones So Far

Here’s our headline data from January – April 2025.

• 88 social connection events
• Across 16 counties nationwide
• Over 950 remote workers registered via Eventbrite
• More than 670 remote Workers attended a Grow Remote event
• 97% of event attendees met with interesting people and had fun
• 81% of event attendees feel more connected to their community
• 34% of event attendees learned more about remote employers and opportunities

In the first four months of the year, there were 41 After work socials, 40 group activities and 7 community contribution events. Overall, there was a 70% conversion from registrations to attendees (industry average is 30-50% conversion). and the range of group activities included bowling and mini golf, breathwork and brunch, coffee, trad music, rock climbing, craft and sport, music bingo, hiking, an art gallery tour, mini golf and yoga!

What we’re witnessing is nothing short of a transformation in how communities function. Remote work isn’t just changing individual lives—it has the power to revitalise entire towns by keeping talent, energy, and resources local. What we’re seeing are professionals with valuable skills who are eager to apply those talents locally, often during hours when other volunteers might be commuting or working away from home.

Join the Movement

This is your invitation to be part of this story. Whether you’re:

🤗 A remote or hybrid worker looking to deepen your community connections

👥 A local organisation seeking skilled volunteers like those who powered our Daffodil Day events

💪🏼 A community leader interested in harnessing the potential of remote employees in your local area

Grow Remote offers the framework, support, and network to turn your community aspirations into reality.

As remote work continues to evolve, so too will its impact on our communities. When we talk about the benefits of remote employment, we often focus on individual flexibility or corporate savings. But perhaps its greatest gift is this: the return of talented professionals to the heart of community life, with the time, energy, and desire to make a difference right where they live.

Join the Grow Remote community as a Local Leader, and let’s build this future together—one community, one connection, one act of service at a time.