Volunteers’ Week 2019
It’s Volunteers’ Week and to celebrate and say thanks to our volunteers who give up their time selflessly to help our residents and run our services, we’ll be featuring some of them here on our website throughout the week!
Mohammad Sourani – Apex Food Club
Mohammad Sourani volunteers every Wednesday morning in Apex Food Club in Derry/Londonderry – the social supermarket for those struggling with the cost of food. He started volunteering six months ago and helps by receiving and weighing stock, stocking shelves and delivering food to various charities in the city.
Catherine Lusby, Apex Food Club Manager:
Mohammad has been an invaluable part of the Social Supermarket team over the last 6 months. He has a solid work ethic, excellent communication skills and along with his improved English language he continues to build on his employability skills with the aim of gaining paid employment.
Mohammad Sourani, Food Club Volunteer
I moved to Derry three years ago from Syria with my family and my volunteering role in the Food Club has helped me to improve my English and allowed me to make friends. My new skills will hopefully help me to get a job in the near future.
Iona Gailey – Ardavon (Supported Living)
Iona Gailey volunteers every Wednesday evening in Ardavon in the Waterside area of Derry/Londonderry, taking Miriam Doherty from the scheme for a walk and a bit of a chat! Iona started volunteering in Ardavon a few months ago.
Allison Foley, Ardavon Manager:
Having a volunteer to spend one to one time with Miriam doing an activity she loves is invaluable; it also helps Miriam maintain her physical and mental health and they both clearly enjoy the social aspect of walking and talking.
Iona Gailey, Volunteer Befriender:
Every week Miriam greets me with a big smile, which makes it so worthwhile. I’m unemployed at the moment, so this gets me out of the house and gives us both a bit of exercise and clears our heads. There’s plenty of banter on our walks!
Thomas Cooper – Parkview House Nursing Home
Thomas Cooper volunteers every Tuesday morning in Parkview House in Castlederg, helping out with kitchen work. The volunteer placement was arranged by Mencap over two years ago and Thomas has been helping out ever since.
Davina McAllister, Parkview House Manager:
Thomas fitted into the role immediately. He gets on very well with everyone, loves to help out with all the tasks and I think most of all enjoys the comradery of the team.
Thomas Cooper, Volunteer Kitchen Assistant:
I love coming to Parkview because everyone is very friendly – residents and staff. I like being part of the staffing team.
Maureen Quinn – Clondermott House (Supported Living)
Maureen Quinn volunteers every Tuesday morning in Clondermott House in the Waterside area of Derry/Londonderry, taking Alice McCloskey from the scheme for a cup of tea and a bit of shopping in Tesco. Maureen started volunteering in Clondermott House seven years ago.
Janice Anderson, Clondermott House Manager:
Our tenants look forward to Maureen coming in each Tuesday to relax and have a chat with her. A Tuesday is special to our tenant Alice McCloskey who patiently awaits Maureen coming in as she takes her to the shops and out for a cup of tea, she enjoys the one to one time that Maureen affords her.
Maureen Quinn, Volunteer Befriender:
I have had my own mental health issues and used to stay in the house a lot. Now I look forward to visiting Alice every Tuesday; it gets me out of the house and I feel that I’m doing good for somebody for a few hours every week.
