‘ It’s improved my mental health’
“MY Mental Health has improved since Volunteering,” says Patrick Henry.
Since January Patrick from Coolaney has been working in the Sligo Independent Living Centre volunteering his time with accounting and administration.
The 24- year- old is no stranger to volunteering and over the last number of years has volunteered with the Model Sligo and Ballymote Credit Union.
Finishing college more than two years ago with several degrees in Accounting he found himself in a sticky situation.
“I had just graduated college and I tried to get jobs but I was not successful so I then turned to volunteer work as a result.”
He has used what he learned in college to help assist a number of businesses around Sligo with accounting, administration and finance assistant.
While his time is spent helping those who need it, Patrick believes he also has benefited greatly from the experience and also believes it has helped improve his Mental Health.
“Yes I feel good doing the work experience but it has greatly improved my mental health helping me to get out of the house.
“Your Mental Health can be significantly affected by the lack of employment but volunteering helped to boost my moral.”
Patrick still regularly offers his time with one or two days a week in the Sligo Independent Living.
“I wish I had done this in college. I would recommend it to anyone especially students. During the summer months it is easy enough to do one or two days of volunteering and what you gain back from it is great.”