Volunteer of the Year - The Awards

The Age Action Care and Repair Volunteer of the Year awards are to recognize our most active and dedicated volunteers. Some one who has gone that extra mile, some one who is always there to help year after year. Nominations have come from colleagues, friends and happy customers. The Volunteer of the Year Awards looked for personal stories describing the efforts of the dedicated Care and Repair volunteer in their community. We looked for people who have taken an active role to help older people and encouraged others to do the same.  People who have made a difference to some ones life! 

The awards have been very kindly sponsored by Irish Life who fund the National Care and Repair Program. Pictured here are Carol Pemberton from Irish Life with two of Santa’s Helpers as they prepare to present the awards.

The winners are:

Mary Corcoran

Mary is a super volunteer and gives her time with a smile.  She has become a true friend to the other volunteers and to the people she helps.  She always has time to listen to the problems other people might have.  She works in the ‘Good Moring Clairemorris’ office where she phones people as part of the Age Action befriending service.  This is a vital part of many older peoples day, and often their only contact with the outside world.  She also works two days a week in the Cancer Shop.  Mary supports many people and is a very genuine person, and is a great volunteer to have on the Age Action Team.  Mary was nominated by Christine Fleming and Rita Dolan. 

Michael Sweeney

Michael has a real interest in helping older people; He is skilful in doing many repair jobs. He advises on tasks that are needed for the upkeep of the house and does them with grace and dignity. He was nominated by Sheila McAuliffe who said ‘I cannot praise him enough for the help he has been to me, I am a 74 year old and a brain haemorrhage survivor,’

Kevin McSweeney

Kevin was the man who had the idea about doing odd jobs for the elderly & Ballyhoura Development got in touch with Age Action. This is where the Care & Repair program began in Charleville. Shortly after it took off Kevin became unwell and was in & out of hospital. This didn’t stop him putting 100% into the group. Only for Kevin this group wouldn’t be as successful as it is. To date they have 76 clients which 9 of these have been regular clients and 17 are daily/weekly visitations the no. of jobs for year 1 ending is 769

Kevin was nominated by Maire Herlihy who said ‘I am based in the Ballyhoura office and take the calls for the care and repair and refer them to Kevin, There is never a bad time to call him he is always more than delighted to follow up on calls straight away.’ and Louise Shanahan who said ‘I always have calls back from clients praising Kevin for his kindness and thoughtfulness.  I think that Kevin deserves an award because he does go that extra mile with clients.’

The winners on stage with Minister Kathleen Lynch and Carol Pemberton being introduced by Rhona OConnor.

Minister Kathleen Lynch speaking about the benefits of the Care and Repair program and the difference it makes to older people.