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Christine, Brain Injury Matters
What interested you about volunteering with Brain Injury Matters? I had always intended to take on a volunteer role to help others after I retired. Although I worked for many years as a clinical physiotherapist specialising in fractures and orthopaedics my experience with acquired brain injury (ABI) was gained in more personal ways as both […]
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The Erne District Chinese Families’ and Friends’ Association
My name is Jessica Thi Chaffey, and I came from Malaysia to live in England in 1993 and to Northern Ireland in 2009, I am of Chinese origin. In Malaysia I had done voluntary work but found it different here. After some Chinese people were targeted by cross border criminals, it was decided to form […]
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Pauline Millar, volunteer befriender
“I visit Frances once a week and I keep her company. We chat and enjoy having a bit of a laugh together!” These are the words of Lisburn based Community Befriender Pauline Millar who has been visiting 91-year-old Frances at home for the past six years. Providing chat and companionship to help reduce loneliness and […]
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Xinxin Wang
Xinxin WANG (王心欣), a postgraduate from Queen’s Law School, has just successfully completed her Master of Law in International Commercial & Business Law this Winter 2023. She is from Tianjin, China. Before she came to Queen’s, she has had good working experience in China, focusing on accountancy and business advisory services. Volunteering, hard work? Yes! […]
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Loraine, Fermanagh
“I love volunteering” I am 69 and I volunteer at Fermanagh Fun Farm 3 times a week cleaning out small animals and pet handling. Making sure they have food and enough warmth. When we have school kids, or the general public I am able to bring out fun information. I’m in my 3rd year there. I also spend one morning […]
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Jennifer Kilpatrick + Hamilton Topping, NSPCC volunteers
A retired sales manager and mum of four have joined forces to visit schools and deliver NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe service It’s an unusual partnership, but mum-of-four Jennifer Kilpatrick and retired sales manager Hamilton Topping have been joining forces two mornings a week to help children recognise abuse. Jennifer and Hamilton volunteer with the […]
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Michael Gracey
What do you help with and how often? I visit my local Praxis scheme every Wednesday night to mainly just hang around with service users playing games, watching movies and having a chat. How long have you volunteered with Praxis Care? I’ve been volunteering since the start of October 2022 so I’d be approaching 8 […]
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Kaila, #iwill Ambassador
I’m Kaila, 15, from Northern Ireland. I’ve been a Youth Councillor for Belfast City Youth Council for two years, working on the Diversity campaign and local events for young people. My main goal’s to encourage creative outlets for social action, such as raising awareness through writing and the arts. I’ve recently been selected for the […]
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Anna, #iwill Ambassador
“My name’s Anna and I’m 15. I’ve been running my beach cleaning organisation, Protect Our Pristine Seas, since age 11, and so far, have completed 24 beach cleans and gathered almost 3 tonnes of litter from Northern Ireland’s beaches. I believe that caring for our environment is one of the first steps to a better […]
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Corin, #iwill Ambassador
“I’m Corin and I’m 15 years old from Strabane. For the past 5 years I have been volunteering in my community with Community Rescue Service, Melmount Community Forum, Corins Easter egg appeal, hott youth, Ballycolman Community Association, SAFE Strabane and YouthAction Northern Ireland. I have also raised over £14,000 for local and national charities. For […]
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Therese, #iwill Ambassador
“I began volunteering in my local gymnastics club when I was 13, running trampolining sessions for young people with severe Autistic Spectrum Disorders and other additional needs such as Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. A lot of the young people I worked alongside were non-verbal, which encouraged me to work to find ways to give […]
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William, #iwill Ambassador
“My name is William, I am seventeen years of age and I am one of the 2022 #IWill Ambassadors! I am from Northern Ireland and do a lot of work in St John Ambulance as the Northern Ireland Regional Cadet of the Year and the Commanderies Cadet of the Year. This work entails raising live […]
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Meet One Of AbilityNet’s Long Serving Volunteers- Matthew
Matthew uses his IT skills to help in all sorts of ways – from showing clients how to shop online, to assisting with special hardware and software adaptations that would meet a disabled person’s specific needs.
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SERC Public / Protective Services Students Recognised for Volunteering Efforts
With Volunteers Week (1 – 7 June) approaching, Btec 1st year L3 Extended Diploma Protective Services and 2nd year L3 Public Services students have been recognised for making an impact by volunteering throughout their time at SERC. They have achieved Volunteer Now Impact Awards for making a standout contribution in their volunteering commitment. Three students […]
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Hamido’s Story
Hamido Megahead has taken his personal experiences through volunteering into analysing informal education for young people in Northern Ireland. The governmental initiative designed guiding framework for youth volunteering, but it is only with experience leading such groups that he has found the capacity to respond to the theoretical models. In his paper “Reflections on Activities […]
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Social Action Project: Mental Health During Lockdown in NI – Posters
Volunteer Now recruited a group of individuals, currently registered with the jobs and benefits offices, wishing to volunteer to undertake a pilot social action project. This was a volunteer led programme and they choose to focus on mental health. The following materials were developed by the volunteers. You can download the posters below. […]
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Social Action Project: Mental Health During Lockdown in NI
Volunteer Now recruited a group of individuals, currently registered with the jobs and benefits offices, wishing to volunteer to undertake a pilot social action project. This was a volunteer led programme and they choose to focus on mental health. This video was developed by the volunteers.
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Rossmar School Limavady
Young people at Rossmar School Limavady undertook a social action programme with the support of Volunteer Now and they focused on Take 5 and the 5 steps to wellbeing. Their video showcases their learning and how others can do it too! The young people have also been volunteering with Oxfam and to thank them they […]
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Shannon McKinney
I am currently a volunteer at Lagan Search and Rescue in Belfast. I attend weekly training evenings which encompass presentations, group discussions and training exercises. I am currently working towards entry into all the emergency response disciplines within the organisation. These include the Rescue Swimmer Corps, Lifeboat Crew, Medical Response Team, Kayak Rescue Corps and […]
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June Jordan
Retirement in 2009 gave me time to expand my volunteering roles, in addition to my existing ones e.g. I still deliver Primary Young Enterprise sessions first supported by my workplace, and continued by me ever since, because I enjoy delivering up to date useful business information to children via fun activities. It keeps me up […]
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Celebrating 25 Years As a Volunteer!
David Brew reached an exciting milestone this month – 25 years as a volunteer helping people use technology! David, a County Controller from Belfast, has been a dedicated volunteer for AbilityNetNI since 1995. He first became involved when he was working as a Consultant for the Department of Trade and Industry. “I assist those who […]
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Lucia Quinney Mee BEM
Volunteer Now were devastated to hear of the loss of one of our #iWill ambassadors, friend and amazing campaigner, Lucia Quinney Mee BEM. Lucia sadly passed away following her 4th liver transplant just before her 21st birthday but whilst with us she was full of determination, passion, commitment, energy and enthusiasm. Much of this was invested in […]
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Volunteering ……the craic is mighty!
I am an Outreach volunteer with The Welcome Organisation. I volunteer every other Monday although I do cover other shifts from time to time. I began volunteering in November 2018 and it’s kind of in my blood, I had been on the lookout for quite a while for an opportunity like this, a hands-on role […]
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Lesley, Mindwise
Lesley is a volunteer with Mindwise and tells us how she has been helping and engaging with people during Covid-19……. “I signed up to do some voluntary arts and crafts teaching with MindWise a short while before the pandemic hit. Although I have not met any of the students yet, we decided to try some […]
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Kevin Doonan – Shopping Support Volunteer
Before volunteering I was working as a barista in Belfast City Airport. My plan was to save enough money to pay to do a Masters in Psychology which I’m happy to say I’ve been accepted to study with Queens University. My long term goal is to work toward becoming a clinical psychologist. I always believe […]
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Nick Menhinick
My name is Nick Menhinick and I’m 75 years old. I arrived in Belfast some 13 years ago. Having left England in my early twenties, I have lived and worked in various parts of the world including Africa and Continental Europe. With no friends or family this side of the Irish Sea and having retired […]
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Get Up, Get Out … Volunteer!
The G6 (Greater Belfast Seniors Forum) all volunteers, with an average age of 70, exists to be the voice of older people in the City.
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Meet Cody – A Befriender of Young People in Foster Care Within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Cody began volunteering when she was 22 years old and finishing her degree at Ulster University in criminology and politics. At this time Cody had a busy life with studying and working part time but really enjoyed keeping fit and felt that she could do something active alongside a young person with lots of energy […]
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More than 50 years of volunteering has kept Geraldine feeling young! Volunteer – it’s good for your health!
Geraldine Linford MBE from Co Antrim is involved in Girl Guiding and has been for over 50 years! She is a unit leader, trainer, tutor and mentor within Girl Guides but also finds time to volunteer for Broughshane Village Garden and in the select vestry of her local church. Geraldine enjoys the social aspect and […]
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Ceri Nesbitt
When did you first volunteer? Summer 2017. Where do you volunteer? Within groups in my local youth centre such as the LGBT+ group and the ‘Saturday Club’. How often do you volunteer? 2-3 times a week. What inspired you to get involved? After being a participant in the 2017 NCS Programme, I wanted to continue […]
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