Got a little free time on your hands?

Cope Foundation is putting out a call for new volunteers to fill roles requiring a wide range of skills.

The call comes during National Volunteering Week, which is aimed at amplifying the incredible stories of volunteering in communities across the country.

Cope Foundation was founded by volunteers 66 years ago and currently has about 90 volunteers who are involved in a range of activities which include music, drama, art, independent living skills, community outings, and gardening.

It’s not all altruistic either; numerous studies have shown that volunteering promotes lower levels of stress and depression while enhancing overall life satisfaction. Turns out the act of giving back releases endorphins, creating a “helper’s high” that boosts mood and reinforces a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

This week we are celebrating National Volunteering Week!
‘What I like about volunteering is the people I meet.’ – Mark
#ConnectingCommunities #NVWIreland
Thank you to our wonderful team of volunteers.@voluntireland @VolunteerCork pic.twitter.com/f08eOKD9Pf

— Cope Foundation (@CopeFoundation) May 15, 2023

The organisation supports 2,800 people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism and looks for volunteers with a variety of skills and from across all age groups. Many retired people enjoy the routine of a regular weekly role while younger people want to gain work experience in the sector.

‘You’ll get a lot out of it.’

“My role as a volunteer changes all the time,” says Lynsey Kelleher, who has been volunteering with Cope Foundation for five years.

“I used to get involved in beauty therapy, music classes, literacy, and numeracy. Now I’m working with staff to support students to make personal choices, helping them decide what they want in the future, how to react in social situations, learning how to be calm, deal with stress, and identifying what works best for them as individuals.

“You can give as little or as much as you can. You’ll get a lot out of it. You walk out the door feeling like you’ve achieved something and it costs you nothing.”

Ready to make a difference in the lives of others and in your own? To learn more about becoming a volunteer at Cope Foundation, contact Milly Farrell, Volunteer Coordinator on 021-4643294 or email volunteer@cope-foundation.ie.