“I didn’t realise I would get as much from volunteering as I did, I have got to meet so many people and have new circles of people around me.”

David began his volunteer journey in 2018. David started volunteering to help him in his recovery from addiction. “I was in early recovery, I wanted to see how the community worked and connect with people. I didn’t want to leave recovery and go back to old ways.” 

In 2018 David called into Louth Volunteer Centre in the hope of finding a way to connect with his community through volunteering. “I was worried they wouldn’t be able to help me due to my previous criminal record. I didn’t know there would be stuff I would be able to volunteer with and stuff that I would be good at. I was expecting another red flag and that I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I was able to do it.”

David who has now been in recovery several years is still massively involved in volunteering and supports many local organisations. I asked David what motivates him to continue volunteering and he told me “For my own mental health, it's also a good reminder of where I came from. From walking into Louth Volunteer Centres office where I thought I would be given a red flag to where I am now”. David also spoke about the enjoyment he gets from volunteering being a huge motivator. “I know loads of people in the town now and they purposely come over to me when I am out fundraising and donate, I like that.” 

In terms of skills David feels he has gained a lot from volunteering. “I have learned a lot of social skills, particularly how to talk to people. I was very delicate when I came into recovery. I needed to learn how to do this and how things worked.”

David has a number of moments that have really stood out to him during his time volunteering. David has partaken in many bucket collections, several times when he has asked people to donate, they have responded in a rude manner, but David always remains polite, kind, and friendly. People often notice this and in turn donate and tell him what fantastic work he is doing. “That just makes me feel great, it reminds me that there are good people in the town.” Another moment that really stood out to David was recently at the mid-summer 5k when he volunteered as a steward. David found himself standing beside the Guard that had arrested him and pushed for his jail time in the past. She greeted him and was happy to see him and see how he was getting on. For David this was a very different interaction with the Guards than he would have been used to in the past and a great example of how things can turn around. 

Another fantastic opportunity David has got from volunteering is being able to share it with his family. “I have been able to bring my nephew volunteering with me and for me that is powerful. I am getting to share this with him and show him how the community works, I didn’t have that as a kid so its brilliant to be able to share it with him.

David feels that Louth Volunteer Centre has been a brilliant support to him with his volunteering. “I am aware I have a criminal record and not all roles I can apply for, but they helped me find roles that are suitable and always happy to support me. David would recommend Louth Volunteer Centre to other people in recovery and for other people who may have been isolated from their community.  He feels it is a great way to find out “who they are, what they like and to make ties with their community.”

David has now travelled around the country sharing his story about addiction and recovery and has gone on to complete his level 5 Community Addiction Studies training. “I want to share my story and attract other people to recovery.” 

David would encourage everyone to get involved in volunteering. “It’s great to get to know how your community works and to connect with people. It also teaches you to be grateful for what we have in our community. Volunteering is a real eye opener to see how much work is actually done in the community. What you give to volunteering you always get far more back.”

Follyvi began his volunteer journey when he arrived in Ireland in January 2020. He began volunteering in Christ Church in Dublin unfortunately though the Pandemic hit soon after starting and everything stopped. 

Follyvi’s motivation to volunteer was to connect with his community. “I feel so alone as an asylum seeker.” Follyvi found volunteering a fantastic way to meet people and practice speaking English. “When I started volunteering is when I got to meet people and not feel alone.”

Follyvi would recommend volunteering as a wonderful way to integrate into the community. When I spoke to him about what he gets from volunteering he told me “Today I am not alone, all of the volunteers are my family.” Follyvi spoke about the fact that when he had to leave his country to seek asylum he had to separate from his wife and 3 boys. He spoke about the impact that this has had on him and how difficult it has been not being able to see them. Follyvi found support in his local community through volunteering. “The Community is my family.”

Follyvi favourite moment throughout his volunteer experience was having the opportunity to volunteer at the come and try athletics day for children with disabilities. Follyvi and a group of Louth Community Volunteers helped on the day. Follyvi really enjoyed watching all the young people compete and receiving their medals at the end of the day and even had the opportunity to jump up on the winners podium himself. Another stand out moment for Follyvi was getting to volunteer with the church. “I fell in love with the church again. I am part of the church community, and they pray for me and relax my mind. 

Follyvi has found Louth Volunteer Centre very helpful on his volunteer journey. “They have helped me to get to know the Louth Community. They have supported me to attend different volunteer roles like the athletics day and the Drogheda summer 5k. I was standing beside a Guard at the race, this is something I have never done before, you couldn’t do that in my country. We were helping to direct traffic and the Guard even took a picture with me. My brain was full of joy when I got home.”

“I want to stay in Dundalk and become a Dundalk man. I feel like I have a lot to share.”

Follyvi would recommend Louth Volunteer Centre to people looking to get involved in the community and looking to get involved in volunteering. “I tell people how nice it is to be part of the community and how nice it is to get to know people and to get to know your area.” “The community can also help you; they can direct you towards education and training opportunities.”

“it’s the perfect way to meet people”

Gerard began his volunteer journey in 2016 when he registered with Louth Volunteer Centre. He has taken part in a wide variety of roles throughout his time registered with us and became a member of Louth Community Volunteers this year. 

When I spoke to Gerard about his motivation to volunteer, he told me “It’s something to do for me and I feel better when I do it.” For Gerard volunteering is not just about the opportunity to give back to the community and use his time in a meaningful way he enjoys being part of a team of volunteers and getting the opportunity to meet other people. “If you want to meet people and you like to meet people, but your social life doesn’t allow that, volunteering is a great way to achieve that.” 

Gerard feels that getting involved in volunteering can help people work on several different skills. “It gives you more confidence in your own ability.” Gerard also feels that volunteering is a fantastic way to work on your communication skills particularly if you are someone who might be shy, and it is something you struggle with. Gerard also thinks that volunteering is a good way for people new to the country to integrate into the community.

Gerard’s favourite volunteer moment to date was volunteering at Fleadh Cheol. “It was such a great atmosphere the whole time.” Gerard along with another volunteer helped at the car parks and enjoyed getting to greet people as they arrived. “We had a great time and enjoyed talking to the public.” Gerard also really enjoyed a recent community volunteer role he took part in which was volunteering at the arts festival. “The family day was really good.”

Gerard has been very happy with the level of support he has received from Louth Volunteer Centre on his volunteer journey. “They always let me know anything that is coming up, I really like that. I want something to do every week or two, so I like that.” Gerard would recommend anyone interested in getting involved in volunteering to register with Louth Volunteer Centre. 

Gerard particularly enjoys being a member of Louth Community Volunteers. He enjoys they variety of roles on offer and the different volunteers that are also involved in the program. “We get to know each other and it’s a very diverse group.”

Gerard would encourage everyone to get involved in volunteering. “If you want to meet people you don’t have to go the pub to do it. You can volunteer its cheaper.”

“The satisfaction you get from volunteering is not something you can buy.”

Ping began her volunteer journey when she first came to Dundalk 20 years ago. She started volunteering with Oxfam “they were looking for volunteers for 2 hours a week, so I started from there.” Ping later went on to register with Louth Volunteer Centre in 2013 and has been a very active volunteer. 

Ping is very happy with the support she receives from Louth Volunteer Centre. “I get emails every week to update me about what roles are available.” Ping also likes that she would get phone calls from Louth Volunteer Centre to check in with her to see how she is getting on and if there is any other support they can offer. “I think it’s very good, I am very happy with it.” Ping would recommend people interested in getting involved in volunteering should register with Louth Volunteer Centre. “I regularly recommend registering with Louth Volunteer Centre to my students, they have so many skills to share.” 

When I spoke to Ping about why she started volunteering she told me “I was new to Dundalk and I wanted to get to know the area, volunteering gave me that opportunity and the chance to get to know local people.” Ping has been motivated to continue volunteering as she feels she has the time to do it and enjoys getting the opportunity to be part of several different organisations. “You know you are doing the right thing, something good.” 

Ping feels that volunteering has really helped her skills in a variety of areas, professionally and personally. “The last few years volunteering has really helped me with my parenting skills.” Ping likes to bring her children to some volunteer roles with her and feels it helps her to teach them empathy and appreciation for what they have. She also feels that it allows her to spend time with her children and connect with them in a positive way. “It has helped me to teach them their social responsibility and it has helped with their personal development.” Ping has volunteered in roles such as SOSAD and ISPCC and these have provided her with training that has helped her to be able to have conversations with her children around mental health. 

Ping really enjoys all the volunteer roles she gets involved in but a particular moment that has stood out to her was when she was volunteering with teenagers as a classroom assistant. “I could see they were uncomfortable at the start and that they didn’t know how to approach me even though my role was to support them. I was able to use my skills from working as a teacher and apply them to the volunteer role.” Ping found great satisfaction when the teenagers began opening up to her and connecting with her. “By the end I got on really well with them, I really enjoyed it.”

Ping was recently recognised at the award ceremony held by Louth Volunteer Centre and Louth County Council for her volunteering efforts during the pandemic. Ping explained that when volunteers stepped up to help during the pandemic, they never expected anything for it.  “It was a privilege and very unexpected. I was so happy to receive that recognition.” 

Ping would encourage everyone to get involved in volunteering. She would recommend “start small, maybe with a once off event and see what you think of it. Then if you want you could do some more continuous roles.” Ping also recommended looking at roles that you have an interest in “if you are doing something you are interested in it is hard to be disappointed.”