Anita Boyle

Anita began her volunteer journey by joining the Irish Red Cross about 10 years ago. ‘I had an accident in 2011 and could no longer work. I decided to embark on furthering my education by studying for a degree in theology and psychology. After I graduated, I needed to do something rather than just sit around the house, so I joined the Irish Red Cross’.  

Anita feels that her volunteering has helped her to gain skills and knowledge particularly around supporting older people. ‘So many elderly people are so lonely and have no one to talk to and even giving a smile can make someone’s day. I also think that if it makes me happy knowing that someone else is happy’.

When asked what her favourite volunteer moment has been Anita couldn’t think of just one. ‘I feel that every moment of volunteering is special in many ways and of course in very different ways. You’re dealing with different people all the time and therefore you have to just be yourself in many ways and make sure you are always positive and that you are giving your positivity to other people’.  

Anita has recently registered with Louth Volunteer Centre and has been happy with the support she has received on her volunteer journey. ‘Since I contacted the Louth Volunteer Centre everybody has been very kind and helpful to me and I am sure I will get on very well’.

Anita would encourage everyone to get involved in volunteering. ‘I think that all people who have spare time on their hands should try volunteering because it makes one’s life whole knowing that you are helping others’.

Anita found volunteering a helpful tool to forget her own problems for a while and focus on someone else. ‘I know it has helped me in a lot of ways because I was married to an alcoholic and even though this was years ago, it’s still on my mind’. Anita feels volunteering and supporting others helps give her understanding of the challenges other people face and allows her to forget about life for a while and focus on supporting them.  

‘I wish to carry on being a volunteer with the years that I have left, knowing that I’ve made someone’s else’s day a bit easier’.