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You are here: Older People Take Part in Flashmobs Across the Country!
According to the 2006 Census, 18% of people in Ireland aged 55 and over regularly volunteer – whether with social or charitable organisations, religious or church groups, sporting, political or cultural organisations or in other voluntary activities.
This coming Friday, 1st October 2010, is Ireland’s National Day of Volunteering and to celebrate, at 11am, 100s of over-55s will participate in some unusual flashmobs in locations around the country. Flashmobs occur when, in a public place and apparently out of nowhere, music is played and a group of people suddenly start to dance in formation. Generally undertaken by younger people, Friday’s flashmobs will comprise only older people and they’ll be drawing attention to the significant contribution older people make as volunteers in Irish society. This year, Ireland’s National Day of Volunteering falls on UN International Day of Older Persons. In honour of this important international day, Volunteer Centres Ireland, the co-ordinator of Ireland’s National Day of Volunteering, have partnered with a number of organisations that work with and for older people on this flagship event for the National Day of Volunteering.
Older people bring significant life experience and valuable skills to bear on their volunteering. The beneficiaries of this enthusiasm and commitment are the thousands of community and voluntary organisations older people volunteer with and the thousands more individuals with which they volunteer.
In addition to drawing attention to the significant contribution older people make as volunteers, the purpose of the flashmob is also to inspire older people not yet volunteering to ‘give it a go’. In participating in the flashmobs, older people are fusing familiar dance steps and music with a very modern form of communication. Volunteer Centres Ireland CEO, Yvonne McKenna, said ‘There is not enough recognition of the contribution older people make to their communities every day. We are delighted to be partnering with fantastic organisations such as Age Action Ireland, Age and Opportunity, Age Friendly Communities, Older and Bolder, the CoisCéim Broadreach dance awareness programme and, of course, the participants, to communicate this important message in a novel way. Studies show that volunteering increases longevity so we’re communicating another important message to older people not involved in volunteering to give it a go’.
Taking place countrywide on Friday October 1st, the National Day of Volunteering aims to encourage people to get involved in their communities by registering for a project already taking place, creating a project of their own, committing a ‘random act of volunteering’ or simply taking the time to thank someone they know who volunteers. All this happens through the website of the co-ordinating body, Volunteer Centres Ireland, www.volunteer.ie (or 01 7994519). Volunteer Centres Ireland is the national Volunteer Centre and a representative body, support agency and membership organisation for all 22 local Volunteer Centres in Ireland.
This coming Friday, 1st October 2010, is Ireland’s National Day of Volunteering and to celebrate, at 11am, 100s of over-55s will participate in some unusual flashmobs in locations around the country. Flashmobs occur when, in a public place and apparently out of nowhere, music is played and a group of people suddenly start to dance in formation. Generally undertaken by younger people, Friday’s flashmobs will comprise only older people and they’ll be drawing attention to the significant contribution older people make as volunteers in Irish society. This year, Ireland’s National Day of Volunteering falls on UN International Day of Older Persons. In honour of this important international day, Volunteer Centres Ireland, the co-ordinator of Ireland’s National Day of Volunteering, have partnered with a number of organisations that work with and for older people on this flagship event for the National Day of Volunteering.
Older people bring significant life experience and valuable skills to bear on their volunteering. The beneficiaries of this enthusiasm and commitment are the thousands of community and voluntary organisations older people volunteer with and the thousands more individuals with which they volunteer.
In addition to drawing attention to the significant contribution older people make as volunteers, the purpose of the flashmob is also to inspire older people not yet volunteering to ‘give it a go’. In participating in the flashmobs, older people are fusing familiar dance steps and music with a very modern form of communication. Volunteer Centres Ireland CEO, Yvonne McKenna, said ‘There is not enough recognition of the contribution older people make to their communities every day. We are delighted to be partnering with fantastic organisations such as Age Action Ireland, Age and Opportunity, Age Friendly Communities, Older and Bolder, the CoisCéim Broadreach dance awareness programme and, of course, the participants, to communicate this important message in a novel way. Studies show that volunteering increases longevity so we’re communicating another important message to older people not involved in volunteering to give it a go’.
Taking place countrywide on Friday October 1st, the National Day of Volunteering aims to encourage people to get involved in their communities by registering for a project already taking place, creating a project of their own, committing a ‘random act of volunteering’ or simply taking the time to thank someone they know who volunteers. All this happens through the website of the co-ordinating body, Volunteer Centres Ireland, www.volunteer.ie (or 01 7994519). Volunteer Centres Ireland is the national Volunteer Centre and a representative body, support agency and membership organisation for all 22 local Volunteer Centres in Ireland.
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