Volunteer Newsletter

ALONE

June / July 2026

Every
Conversation
Matters

Every conversation, every visit and every act of kindness helps an older person feel more connected, supported and less alone.

ALONE’s CEO smiling

ALONE in Numbers

Powered by Volunteers

So far in 2026, ALONE's volunteers and staff have supported thousands of older people across Ireland.

35,976 Older People Supported

10,621 ALONE Volunteers

2,602 Support & Befriending Visits

A Message From ALONE

ALONE’s CEO smiling

Every Conversation Matters

Every conversation, every visit and every act of kindness helps an older person feel more connected, supported and less alone.

This edition celebrates the people behind that connection: volunteers who give their time, staff who support them and older people whose voices guide our work.

Thank you for the warmth, consistency and humanity you bring to ALONE.

Driving Change

Fixing the Foundations: ALONE’s Pre-Budget Submission 2027

Through our work with older people across Ireland, we see the challenges many are facing every day. That’s why this year ALONE is calling on Government to:

  • Lift older people living alone out of poverty
  • Support older people to age well at home
  • Address housing and energy pressures
  • Establish a Commissioner for Older People

Together, these measures would help create a fairer, more age-friendly Ireland where older people can live with dignity, security and independence.

At the end of June, ALONE launched this year's
pre-Budget campaign, Fixing the Foundations, setting out our view on the steps the Government need to take to ensure older people can age at home with dignity, security and connection in this year's Budget.

Read the Full Pre-Budget Submission

Advocacy Through Experience

Liz’s Story

One of the most powerful moments at the launch was hearing directly from Liz, an older person supported by ALONE.

Liz spoke honestly about life on a limited income and the difficult choices many older people face as the cost of everyday essentials continues to rise. Her story made a real impact on politicians and decision-makers in the room and helped put a human face on the issues facing older people across Ireland.

Today, Liz is supported by a wonderful ALONE volunteer and members of our team.

Her story is a powerful reminder that the support volunteers provide changes lives, and that the experiences of older people can help influence the decisions that shape Ireland’s future.

Volunteer & Staff Voices

Meet the volunteers and staff behind ALONE’s work, and discover how shared experiences and honest feedback help strengthen connection across our communities.

Meet Our Volunteers

Your Time Can Make a Difference

Tom’s story shows how a regular visit can create connection, friendship and joy.

Tom, an ALONE volunteer

Meet Our Staff

Meet Our VSO Caroline Bradley

Supporting volunteers, Caroline witnesses the life-changing power of human connection every day.

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Your Voice Matters

The Annual Volunteer Programme Survey

Whether you’ve volunteered with ALONE for years or only recently joined, your feedback matters.

ALONE volunteer

Investing in Volunteers

ALONE is currently reapplying for the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation, the quality standard for volunteer management in Ireland and the UK.

As part of the assessment process, a small number of active volunteers will be invited to take part in a short, optional interview during the first two weeks of October to share their experiences of volunteering with ALONE.

If selected, we will be in touch with further details.

Older people's voices

What Older People Told Us

Through ALONE’s recent Cost of Living Survey, older people told us they are continuing to feel the impact of rising prices on everyday life. Many shared concerns about meeting essential household costs, keeping their homes warm and maintaining a good quality of life on a fixed income.

The findings highlight the growing financial pressures facing many older people and the difficult choices some are being forced to make.

These experiences are helping shape our recommendations to Government ahead of Budget 2027.

75%

Had been impacted by the cost of living crisis

↗ up from 44% in 2025
58%

Found it difficult to pay their bills

↗ up from 37% in 2025
45%

Had put up with feeling cold to save on energy bills

↗ up from 40% in 2025
19%

Could not buy healthy and nutritious food as often as they need

40%+

Said financial pressures sometimes or often stopped them from going out or meeting friends

Heating, food and household maintenance were the costs people were most worried about.

We are currently planning this year's Christmas campaign and are looking for older people with a gift for storytelling to help bring it to life.

If the older person you visit loves a chat, enjoys sharing memories from Christmases gone by, and has plenty of stories to tell, we'd love to hear from you.

Please get in touch and we'll be happy to share more details.

Contact us at [email protected] .

ALONE recently made a submission to United Nations discussions on the rights of older people.

The submission covered several important areas: housing, healthcare, ageing at home, digital inclusion, and protection from abuse.

ALONE often gets involved early in these discussions, rather than waiting until policies are already decided. Getting involved early means we can help shape how these issues are discussed, so that older people's rights and experiences are considered from the start.

Training Spotlight

Supporting Older People Living with Dementia

Have you visited the Volunteer Training Hub recently?

This month’s featured module focuses on supporting older people living with dementia and includes practical tips you can use during calls and visits.

You’ll learn more about:

  • Understanding dementia and its impact on daily life
  • Communicating with empathy and confidence
  • Supporting older people and their families
  • Practical ways to respond to changing needs

Whether you’re new to volunteering or simply looking to refresh your knowledge, this short module is well worth exploring.

Access the training module

To Every ALONE Volunteer

Thank you for everything you do.

Every conversation, visit and act of kindness helps an older person feel more connected, supported and less alone.