Meet volunteer befriender, Mary

Mary Delaney has been a volunteer befriender for COPE Galway since 2019. Mary is always cheerful and has a warm, welcoming smile. With her happy-go-lucky personality, Mary’s clients love to see her come through the door on her weekly visits.  

Here, Mary tells us about her role as a befriender, and how volunteering is a two-way process – one that has to work well for the volunteer and the client.  

“About five or six years ago I decided to go part-time, working two days a week and I thought it would be a good time to try some voluntary work. I saw an ad in the paper for a volunteer befriending role with COPE Galway and said to myself, ‘now’s my chance‘.  

I’d had it in my head for a while to volunteer, but just never followed through on it. I think this befriending role just happened at the right time in my life. I’ve never looked back since!”

“I’ve always liked older people – I think they’re a great bunch, full of knowledge and life experience. Each person I’ve met over the years has a different personality and their own ways of doing things. As a volunteer, you always get something out of it – it kind of works both ways!  

I call on two lovely older people at their homes on Thursdays for about an hour. We always have a bit of banter – we can talk about anything. It’s about being open and just bringing a bit of cheerfulness into their lives – and vice versa.  

What keeps me motivated to volunteer? I suppose it’s the feeling that you’ve done something good for someone. I’ve had a pretty good life, so I felt it was time for a bit of payback. You feel like you’ve brought a bit of light into someone’s life – and to be honest, I really enjoy calling to them, you get great satisfaction from it.”  

“When an opportunity arises, you have to be ready for it. You have to factor in whether it suits you and what kind of role you want to go for. You honestly get out of it as much as you put into it. I’d recommend volunteering to anyone!”  

* Volunteer befriender/Helping Hands at Home is a volunteering role that supports older people in Galway city to remain living at home independently. Through weekly visits, volunteers provide practical help with household tasks and befriending support to reduce isolation.