From volunteering to Team Lead – Frances’ Story.  

Frances began volunteering with COPE Galway Senior Support Service in June 2022. Earlier this year, a role became available at Sonas Day Centre, and following a successful interview, Frances is now working as Sonas Day Centre Team Lead.  

From her early teens, Frances had been interested in and had taken part in volunteering both in Ireland and abroad, but through the busy years of college, it fell off her radar for a time. The effects of the pandemic and the isolation that it brought for everyone, coupled with Frances’ passion for working with older people prompted her to research available volunteering opportunities in Galway.

Frances discovered COPE Galway’s Befriending Service, which matches a volunteer with an older person in the community that has registered for the service. Once matched up, the volunteer and older person arrange a time, at least one hour a week, where they can meet and socialise. This can be anything from going out for coffee, going for a walk, or simply having a chat in the older person’s home. Frances was matched up with Carmel and immediately saw the benefit for them both:   

I feel there’s so much important in bringing people back together, back to the community.”

While volunteering, Frances also worked as a home care assistant to older people in Galway. Frances frequented Sonas Day Centre through the clients she worked with, and got to know Noelle Jennings, Manager of COPE Galway Senior Support Service Community Support Team.  

It was through Noelle that Frances learned of the Team Lead role at Sonas Day Centre. Frances’ positive volunteering experience with COPE Galway made applying for the Team Lead role a no-brainer for her. 

The reason there are so many volunteers and the reason they do so much is because they are given the supports, and they’re getting something back.”

Now Team Lead at Sonas Day Centre, Frances still keeps in touch with Carmel who says she has been enjoying Frances’ company, joking that they “haven’t had a fight yet!”.