24/02/2026
We are incredibly proud to see St Joseph’s Centre featured in The Irish Times today, telling the story of our volunteer programme and its impact through the voices of the people who live it.
What comes through clearly is the human side of it. Volunteering here is about making every moment matter. It is about music that unlocks memory, a cup of tea made just right, a chat that settles a difficult moment, or simply sitting together when words are not needed.
For the people who live at St Joseph’s, those moments bring connection and warmth into the everyday. They add colour, laughter and reassurance. But the impact flows both ways. Many of our volunteers speak about how the experience has changed them too. Some came looking to give back. Others arrived during a difficult period in their own lives. What they found was community, perspective and a sense of purpose. As one volunteer shared, a single moment of real connection can stay with you for a very long time.
This programme has been supported thanks to Nicola Yau, our Volunteer and Community Manager, who has helped to build an extraordinary network of volunteers committed to making every moment matter at St Joseph’s Centre. Her work, alongside the dedication of more than 120 volunteers, has created something that is both structured and deeply personal.
Following the launch of our Volunteer Impact Research Report last year, in collaboration with DCU , which found the programme to be life changing for residents, families, staff and volunteers, it is powerful to see that impact recognised on a national stage.
If you would like to read more on the report click here: https://www.saintjosephsshankill.ie/international-volunteer-day-2025
