The Irish Heart Foundation celebrates its volunteers on International Volunteer Day.

To mark International Volunteer Day, (Monday 05 December 2022)  The Irish Heart Foundation is celebrating its wonderful volunteers who are at the heart of everything we do.

The theme for International Volunteer Day 2022 is solidarity through volunteering, something which is evident in the tireless efforts of all Irish Heart Foundation’s volunteers nationwide.

The Irish Heart Foundation provides a range of vital supports to people whose lives have been affected by heart disease and stroke and none of this would be possible without the help of its volunteers.

Close to 9,000 people in Ireland die from heart disease and stroke every year, and hundreds of thousands are living with a heart condition or the long-term effects of stroke. Our team of volunteers provide a range of invaluable service for these people, from driving members to support group meetings, to working with our telephone befriending service.

Martina Greene, Patient Services National Volunteer Manager in the Irish Heart Foundation expressed her gratitude to the charity’s volunteers nationwide.

“We would like to give thanks to our wonderful volunteers nationwide who give their time so freely in supporting our Irish Heart Foundation members living with heart disease and stroke live better lives every day,” she said.

Many of the Irish Heart Foundation’s volunteers work in peer-to-peer support, meaning that they have had first-hand experience of a heart attack or stroke in the past, and can use their personal experience to provide guidance, solidarity, and hope for support group members. After the initial shock and challenges that can follow a heart attack or stroke, the shared experiences of the peer-to-peer volunteers is particularly beneficial to support group members.

Volunteering not only helps support heart and stroke patients all over Ireland, but it is also a rewarding way to give back. Anne Battle, a Community Group and Befriending Volunteer in Roscommon said, “I find ringing members weekly for a social chat so enjoyable I really look forward to it, it’s one small way to give back but it is hugely rewarding.”

The Irish Heart Foundation currently has more than 100 volunteers and is always looking to recruit more. There is a wide range of volunteer roles available including,  Patient Support Telephone Befriender, Patient Support Community (Group) Volunteer, and Patient Support E-Volunteers.

For more information on volunteering with the Irish Heart Foundation please see our dedicated volunteer page

If you are interested in volunteering with the Irish Heart Foundation, or would like to learn more, please email our volunteer department (ihfvolunteer@irishheart.ie) listing the role you are interested in along with a short note on why you are interested in that particular role, and your availability.

Thank you.