International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026 Volunteer Spotlight - ALONE

International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026 – Volunteer Spotlight: ALONE

As part of Louth Volunteer Centre's 26 of 26 project, we introduce you  ALONE - a national organisation supporting older people to age happily, safely, and confidently at home.

Who is ALONE?

ALONE works right across Ireland to make sure older people are never left to face life's challenges by themselves. Through befriending, practical support, telephone check-ins, and advocacy.  ALONE helps address one of the most overlooked issues in our communities: loneliness. The need is real - roughly 1 in 3 older people live alone, and for many, a regular visit or phone call from a volunteer can be the highlight of their week.

But ALONE is more than a support service. It's a community built on connection, and volunteers are at the very heart of it.

In Their Own Words

We spoke to some of ALONE's volunteers about what the experience has meant to them, and their honesty says more than any leaflet ever could.

They talk about it as a genuinely powerful way to give something back to the community they live in. A few admitted they were nervous at the start - unsure whether they'd be able to relate to the people they'd be visiting. But that worry faded fast, replaced by something they now look forward to every week: a small amount of time that brings a surprising amount of reward. More than one volunteer wondered aloud why they hadn't started sooner.

Their advice for anyone considering it, especially younger people weighing it up, is simple: you won't really understand what you'll get out of volunteering until you actually try it.

But the line that stayed with us most was this one:

"I went in thinking that I was there to help and support somebody through volunteering, and actually what I've realised is that we're there to support each other."

Why It Matters

These small acts - a phone call, a cup of tea, an hour of someone's time each week - can make a difference. They remind older people in community that they are seen, valued, and never truly alone. And as volunteers tell us, the reward isn't one-sided. Connection changes both people in the room.

Get Involved

If watching this has moved you even a little, that's usually the first sign it's worth trying. You don't need special skills to make a difference - just a little time and a willingness to show up.

ALONE National Support & Referral Line: 0818 222 024 🌐 Find out more: alone.ie

And if you'd like to explore volunteering opportunities in Louth more broadly, reach out to us at Louth Volunteer Centre - we'd love to help you find where you fit.

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