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 where your help can make a real difference.

I enjoy it all; it can be highly unpredictable and working with service users can be challenging but they are mostly really interesting people with extraordinary often tragic stories.  For me, a real joy is getting to work alongside the full-time staff; they are truly amazing folk.  Their commitment and dedication to service users is truly inspiring and is always done with patience and good humour.  People like these are rare as hen’s teeth and makes the late hours’ worth it.

I see myself as a family man first but my full-time role is to run an organisation that owns and operates Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie harbours.

I have also volunteered for 25 years+ in scouting across a broad range of roles; currently working as treasurer.  I worked for nine years as a board member of the largest charitable domiciliary care organisation in Northern Ireland.

Would I recommend volunteering?  Absolutely!  I can guarantee you will get back far more than you can ever give, especially with The Welcome Organisation where the craic is mighty.  So looking forward to getting back on the road when this crisis is over.

KEVIN QUIGLEY