Why did you decide to volunteer with Connect Fermanagh?
With some encouragement from my wife I contacted Sonya. I felt I could use some of my time in the lockdown positively and perhaps assist others at the same time.
What other volunteer work have you been / are involved in?
I’m Chairman of the Drumragh Integrated School Parents Council. I volunteer for the environmental group Save Our Sperrins.
Have you noticed any benefits for those you re phoning via Connect Fermanagh?
Now that a relationship has been established service users say they look forward to hearing from me.
Has volunteering with Connect Fermanagh benefitted you in any way or have you learnt anything form your experience?
Yes, you get a sense of being part of a wider societal effort to fight Covid-19, which is a positive for one’s own mental health.
Have you a favourite or memorable moment of volunteering with Connect Fermanagh?
Just making small connections when talking with clients, that’s the building blocks for establishing trust.
Your top tip managing lockdown?
View this time as something that will be talked about for many years, live it as a beneficial experience for society by staying at home (if you can), ie no guilt about doing the right thing.
Any interesting fun facts about yourself / hobbies / interests etc. that you are willing to share?
I’m a twin who married a twin. I play (usually charity gigs) in a small band – Stone Resistance.
What would you say to anyone feeling isolated and thinking of calling Connect Fermanagh?
I would say “Talking is important on many levels, not least for good mental health. You will have lots to think about after ringing Connect Fermanagh, as a variety of possibilities open up the minute you make the call. Don’t be alone, there are volunteers working for Connect Fermanagh who will make a difference for you. “
Caroline has been Volunteering with Connect Fermanagh and makes calls every week to people feeling lonely across Fermanagh. Caroline lives just outside Enniskillen, she supports Arsenal and is really missing the football. Caroline keeps alpacas – 3 gorgeous boys called Boris, Leo and Dirty Alan.
Caroline originally volunteered to be a “chat and check” volunteer with the NHS. The NHS is very important to Caroline, as it saved her life back in 2016 and she still receives ongoing treatment. Caroline wanted to give something back, in the past she had volunteered with St Johns Ambulance and enjoyed a wide variety of different situations. Caroline went through all the checks and was advised that as she lived in Northern Ireland it was better to apply for local initiatives. Caroline started looking for local opportunities and came across Connect Fermanagh, “Which to be honest sounded perfect for me. The rest they say is history!”
Have you noticed any benefits for those you re phoning via Connect Fermanagh?
“For those people that I have chatted to they really seem to enjoy just “having a chat and having somebody different to talk to, who reassures them and tells them they are not alone. The ongoing happiness and thank yous I receive from people when I call each week is so rewarding”.
Has volunteering with Connect Fermanagh benefitted you in any way or have you learnt anything form your experience?
“Absolutely, I have stage 5 Kidney Disease and dialyses at home 3 times a week. I make my calls whilst on dialysis, so it makes the time go faster for me and I also enjoy a chat too. I am also in isolation so I can understand how everyone else feels.”
Have you a favourite or memorable moment of volunteering with Connect Fermanagh?
Just making small connections when talking with clients, that’s the building blocks for establishing trust.
Your top tip managing lockdown?
“Do not constantly watch the news!Give friends and family a call that you haven’t spoken to in a while. You will find they are feeling just like you and will love that catch up. Read a good book, there are lots out there! Try and get those jobs done at home that you have been meaning to do for a while but never have enough time! Be positive and keep smiling!”
What would you say to anyone feeling isolated and thinking of calling Connect Fermanagh?
“Please do call! We are here to chat and love chatting ourselves. Everyone feels a little lonely and bored at the moment so pick that phone up!”
Laura has previously volunteered with Fermanagh Women’s Aid and Fermanagh Talking Newspaper. She usually enjoy travelling, is a member of a rowing club and loves to cycle. Laura finds it really rewarding volunteering with Connect Fermanagh, she believes it has been a real privilege getting to know the people she is talking to every week. Laura also feels she has been on a learning curve having gained some insight into how life was lived in Fermanagh in previous generations.
Why did you decide to volunteer with Connect Fermanagh?
I wanted to support people feeling vulnerable/ lonely in the community through this difficult time. Laura believes there are benefits for those receiving calls from Connect Fermanagh, she believes the people she calls feel cared and supported through a laugh and a chat, “it’s good for their mental health and makes them feel a valued member of the community” Laura is really enjoying making her calls, she enjoys the rapport you build with the people you talk to “and laughter, it’s good to laugh!”
Your top tip managing lockdown?
Laura finds practicing mindfulness, reading for pleasure and practicing Yoga have all helped her through
What would you say to anyone feeling isolated and thinking of calling Connect Fermanagh?
“It’s good to talk and everyone can feel lonely sometimes, there is no stigma. Please ring and you’ll not regret the friendships you make.”
“Please do call! We are here to chat and love chatting ourselves. Everyone feels a little lonely and bored at the moment so pick that phone up!”