ALONE Celebrates International Volunteer Day: Recognising the Power of Volunteers in Supporting Older People

As volunteer numbers grow, ALONE celebrates those who give their time to reduce loneliness, strengthen communities, and support older people to age at home. 

 On International Volunteer Day, ALONE is recognising the dedication of the thousands of volunteers who supported older people across Ireland in 2025, helping them remain connected, independent, and valued members of their communities. 

Volunteers are at the heart of ALONE’s work. From offering friendship and social connection, to providing practical support and companionship, they make a profound difference in the lives of older people who may be experiencing loneliness, isolation, or other difficulties associated with ageing. In 2025, ALONE volunteers gave over 264,000 hours of their time to support older people to age at home demonstrating the scale, commitment, and community spirit behind the organisation’s work. 

Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said:
“Our volunteers are the backbone of ALONE. Every call, every visit makes a real difference in the lives of older people. On International Volunteer Day, we want to thank each and every volunteer for their commitment to building a society where older people can age at home with dignity and respect.” 

With over 9,000 volunteers supporting ALONE in 2025, the organisation continues to call for more volunteers as demand from older people grows. Volunteering with ALONE is flexible and rewarding, offering meaningful opportunities to make a real and lasting difference in someone’s life. All volunteers on the front line are fully vetted, trained, and continually supported. Volunteers are also fully integrated into our services and work closely with our staff across the country. 

If you would like to volunteer with ALONE and transform the life of an older person in your community, please visit www.alone.ie/volunteer or call 0818 222 024