Sligo volunteers shortlisted for national awards
TWO Sligo volunteers have been shortlisted for awards at the Volunteer Ireland Awards 2017.
Eithne Kiely has been shortlisted for the Volunteer Manager Special Commendation award for her work with Sligo Social Services, while Irene Geelan is up for the Social Work and Social Inclusion award for her work with Failte Isteach.
Eithne retired from her role as Volunteer Manager with Sligo Social Services Council earlier this year, after 43 years of dedicated service, supporting numerous volunteers along the way. From fundraising and thrift shop volunteers to most recently, over 200 dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers.
What started as the coming together of like-minded people to address social issues in Sligo, grew into an organisation providing a wide range of different services including Meals on Wheels, Homeless Services, Child care and Child and Family Services, CE Schemes, Counselling, Information and Advocacy, Refugee Resettlement Programmes and our newly launched Elderly Befriending Service.
According to Faye who nominated her “Sligo Social Services Council and the community of Sligo are better places to be because of Eithne’s efforts. She truly is and was always in her role a beacon of all that is good about volunteering and the significant benefits it brings to communities.”
Irene has been involved with the continuous running of this project – which provides an opportunity for non-native speakers to meet to either learn or practice their English language skills – since 2008. Thanks to her, this project has maintained its presence in the community for many years; it has seen many participants pass through its doors and progress to further integration in Irish society, e.g. further education, training and/or work. The project also provides an important social outlet for many.
Irene has also taken charge of the all-important tea break. She supplies all of the tea, coffee and goodies for everyone. Her calm, quiet approach is exactly the ingredient required as many of the participants are unsure or lacking in confidence when they join. She works creatively with learners by utilising resources that they are most likely going to encounter on a day to day basis.
The awards take place in the Radisson BlueHotel in Rosses Point on December 1st.