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PRESS RELEASE: THURSDAY 7th JULY: Volunteers needed for new Monaghan Care and Repair Initiative
Monaghan Integrated Development in collaboration with Monaghan Volunteer Centre, Positive Age and Age Action are delighted to announce plans for the launch of the first Care and Repair Service in Co. Monaghan in September 2010. Care & Repair was established by Age Action to carry out “odd jobs” for older people and to provide a befriending service. Laura Caslin (Peace III Older Persons Officer) explained ‘The main aim of the programme is to assist older people to carry out necessary small repairs and improvements on their homes, enabling them to live independently in the community in increased comfort and safety and we are delighted to have secured a small amount of funding from the Community Foundation for Ireland to commence this service in Co.Monaghan’. This service is aimed at older people living alone or older couples who are unable to do small household repairs or gardening.
In order to meet the needs of older people Monaghan Care and Repair will provide a range of practical repair and care services including:
A Voluntary Service
The Repair Service uses a pool of volunteers and handypersons to carry out small repairs and to complete minor home tasks for older people. Volunteers in effect provide a willing pair of helping hands to do a variety of small tasks that an older person may find difficult to do. According to Audrey Wilson (Volunteer Centre Development Officer) “Volunteers are the backbone of the Care and Repair Service, without them we will not be able to provide this much needed service in Co. Monaghan”. Age Action reports that the most common services required by older people are:
Minor gardening (e.g. mowing lawns)
· Minor home decorating (e.g. interior painting) · Installing handrails · Tacking down carpets · Changing plugs, fuses and light bulbs · Installing security locks and chains · Hanging curtains · Installing domestic smoke alarms . Small painting jobs
Can you lend a hand?
Do you have DIY skills and some spare time on your hands? Do you care about the community and like to learn a new skill? We are seeking volunteers of all ages both male and female who are interested in DIY. Volunteers with specialist skills (e.g. joinery expertise) are also welcome. We are particularly interested in attracting retired persons as volunteers. All volunteers will be vetted and carry official Care and Repair Identity Cards. If you would like to find out more about volunteering with Care and Repair please contact Monaghan Volunteer Centre on 042 9754551 or email:
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for an information pack.
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PRESS RELEASE: WEDNESDAY 13th JANUARY 2010: Irish women are far more likely to volunteer than their male counterparts.
New figures released today give insight into the make up of Irish volunteers and it seems women make up 70% of those registering to volunteer via their local Volunteer Centre. The figures released by Volunteer Centres Ireland (VCI) show that in Ireland more and more people are contacting their local volunteer centre to get involved with their local communities.
In 2009, Volunteer Centres saw a more than 100% increase in the numbers registering to volunteer. More than 13,000 people nationwide, registered to volunteer.
The number one reason why people registered to volunteer in 2009 was to ‘Give Something Back’, while ’Free Time’ and ’Gain and Improve Skills’ followed shortly behind. Undoubtedly the recession has influenced people’s decision to volunteer as, for the first time, ‘Recently Made Redundant’ also made the top 10.
61% of people registering to volunteer had never volunteered before.
‘Youth / Children’, ‘Education and Literacy’ as well as ‘Older People’ are the top three most popular categories of volunteer opportunities although many people are not sure what they want to do - just that they want to do something. Office Work has become increasingly popular as more and more people seek professional work experience.
Volunteers recruited through volunteer centres are predominately young with almost 70% of volunteers aged under 35 years and more than one-third aged 16-25 years. Furthermore, one in three volunteers are non-Irish.
PRESS RELEASE: THURSDAY 14TH JANUARY 2010: Volunteering: A New Year's Resolution That Makes A Difference! Monaghan Volunteer Centre is urging people to start the year by volunteering. According to Audrey Wilson (Volunteer Centre Development officer) ‘Becoming a volunteer could tick all your new year’s resolution boxes. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, gain experience and confidence and in recessionary times it can also equip you with skills which could help you when seeking employment.’ Anyone can volunteer and Monaghan Volunteer Centre is there to help you find the volunteering opportunity that is right for you. ‘Across Co. Monaghan there are many groups and organisations looking for volunteers willing to commit their time and energy. Volunteering is a way of making our lives better as well as enriching the lives of others.’
In 2009 Monaghan Volunteer Centre seen a huge increase in the number of people registering to volunteer. Audrey states ‘last year marked a revival of interest in volunteering with 218 individuals registering with the centre, more than 100% increase on the previous year. The current economic climate has been a contributing factor to this increase with more and more people out of work finding that they now have the time to get involved in their community.’
So if you are still looking for a new year’s resolution that makes a difference log onto our website www.volunteermonaghan.ie or contact Monaghan Volunteer Centre on 042 9754551 for more information about volunteering.
Monaghan Volunteer centre is managed by Monaghan Integrated Development, funded by the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and is a member of the national network ‘Volunteer Centres Ireland’.
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PRESS RELEASE: THURSDAY, 1ST OCTOBER 2009: What a Difference A Day Makes! Volunteers ‘Give it a Swirl’ on the National Day of Volunteering Beautician Dawn Finnegan and Beauty teacher Fiona Keenan O’Brien of Oliva Keenan Beauty Salon, Glaslough Street, Monaghan kick started the Give It a Swirl projects with a informative and interactive beauty workshop at the Rehab Care Day Centre in Monaghan Town. A short introduction on the importance of skin care by Fiona was followed by a luxurious facial demonstration by Dawn and opportunity to put theory into practice. Staff and service users alike indulged in the treatments on offer including relaxing facials, chic manicures and sparkling nail art while Dawn and Fiona divulged the secrets of eternal beauty. A make up demonstration concluded the workshop leaving all who participated quite literally sitting pretty! Many thanks to Olivia Keenan, proprietor of Olivia Keenan, Beauty Salon who kindly donated the personnel and products which made this project such as success. St. Mary’s Hospital, Castleblayney played host to their own ‘Give It a Swirl Project’ with staff from Monaghan Integrated Development organising a coffee morning for the hospital patients. Pauline McKenna and Jim Kerr demonstrated their musical abilities on the flute and banjo as they effortlessly responded to requests for ‘Country Roads’ and ‘The Boys from County Armagh’ as well other traditional favourites. Patients relaxed as Monaghan Integrated Development staff toasted pancakes, buttered scones and poured tea while chatting and sharing stories. Dinkins Bakery, Castleblayney further contributed to the success of the project with their kind donation of a delectable selection of pancakes, bread and scones. It may be true that there is no smoke without fire but let it be said that indeed there is no coffee morning without scones! Monaghan and Clones Library staff also marked the national day of volunteering by donning their Give It a Swirl Day t- shirts and distributing bookmarks promoting the services of Monaghan Volunteer Centre. After all, what better occasion to encourage people to volunteer than on the national day of volunteering? On reading this article you may correctly conclude that Give It Swirl Day is a super initiative which is a fun and rewarding experience for all who get involved. Maybe for some reason you missed out this year but don’t fret as Monaghan Volunteer Centre is here to help you get involved in volunteering all year round. For more information on volunteering in Co. Monaghan please contact Audrey Wilson, Volunteer Centre Development Officer on 042 97 54551. Monaghan Volunteer Centre is managed by Monaghan Integrated Development and funded by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. |