COPE volunteers provide the backbone that helps keep charity working

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and thriving – helping local charities to fulfill the ever-increasing demand for services while at the same time contributing to the greater good.

COPE Galway relies heavily on its team of almost 200 volunteers – which is why, as part of National Volunteering Week, the charity this week held its third annual Volunteer Recognition Event in Salthill to thank all of their helpers for giving their time.

COPE Galway provides supports and services for those affected by homelessness, domestic violence and for older people. Its aim is to improve quality of life for these people in a home of their own by supporting home, promoting community and reducing isolation.

Cabrini McDaid, Neil Cronin and Patsy Kenny are just three of the people who use their time to help out at COPE Galway.

“What led me to it is my now-adult children are all grown up so I have more time on my hands,” explains Cabrini.

She had already been doing some volunteer work but was set on finding something different and that would challenge her. And so, Cabrini checked out COPE and became an activities coordinator for the organisation.

Her job involves meeting with COPE clients and getting information from them, she then goes in search of social or recreational activities that will suit the person and get them involved.

Fundraising is something Neil has done for years and he is now a fundraising volunteer for COPE Galway.

He started with COPE around ten years ago and is responsible for gathering spot prizes and setting up everything needed on the day of the events.

Patsy’s friend got her involved with volunteering around six or seven years ago. Her working week went down to three days so she had more time to help those who needed it and soon she began delivering meals to the elderly around Galway with community catering.

Connecting with businesses, clubs and other services to see what they can offer at a discount or for free is all in a day’s work for Cabrini.

“What I find when I contact people is that they are so willing to help,” she says – and she wants others to participate in volunteering and providing services so that COPE clients feel connected to the community and feel valued.

Neil worked in the electrical business for years and so knows a lot of people around Galway – a valuable asset when looking for spot prizes. He likes to go out and speak to people face-to-face rather than ring them.

“I find then that they can’t say no,” he laughs, “but I find people are good no matter where you go looking for something, you get it.”

Each Monday, Patsy does community catering, or ‘meals on wheels’ as it’s known. Before her route, she heads to COPE and is given a list of who wants a meal that day and she begins her day.

She not only delivers a nutritional meal, but also provides some conversation and companionship for the people she meets on her route.

Cabrini’s work as COPE’s activities coordinator has meant a busy time for her in this new role. Volunteering is a way to give back and Cabrini would encourage others to get involved.

“I think most volunteers will say that it’s a win-win situation; I’m getting a huge amount out of it and it is very fulfilling,” she says.

Neil and Patsy no longer work and dedicate as much free time as they can to COPE.

Patsy also helps with the Renmore Friendship Club. “It’s run on the same style as the COPE lunch clubs so we supply the meals from COPE,” she explains.

The Renmore Friendship club is every Tuesday and Patsy explains that four teams of volunteers take part – each team does one Tuesday per month – and they recently won a mayoral award for their commitment to increasing the quality of life for the elderly in the community.

The three volunteers would encourage others to dedicate any time they can to COPE Galway.

Neil enjoys his time at COPE and how there are no separations between volunteers and managers – everyone sits together and has a chat in the office and get along great.

Patsy feels the same, the people she meets doing community catering are always happy to see her and ‘everything is a chat and a laugh and friendship’.

Cabrini tells of how she approached a local hairdresser who offered her skills at a Galway hostel. Those who availed of haircuts felt valued and it boosted their confidence and she encourages anyone with any skills to get involved with COPE.

COPE’s 200 volunteers help in over 30 volunteer roles, including driver, kitchen assistant, food rescue, cookery tutor, befriender, day centre, lunch club, musicians, playroom support, health and well-being, physical activity, shop assistant, fundraising and administration and many more.

COPE have church gate collections around the county on June 17 and 18, a bucket collection at Oranmore Town Centre on June 23 and one at Barna Supervalu and they are hoping people can lend some time for these collections.

If you would like to find out more about COPE or would like to volunteer, have a look on their website