Social Capital promotes the idea that our place within the community is one which is built on the trust and the relationships we have with each other and these connections enrich all our lives. We recognise that Social Capital is not located within the individual person or within the social structure, but in the space between people. Its an organic process that needs time, commitment and it is a sign of a community which includes all and values all, without it we are only a community of individuals.
How do we in Cheeverstown help build better communities for everyone?
- We start from the belief that everybody has something to contribute and gain from the community.
- Our aim is to be a bridging organisation which actively looks for opportunities to work in partnerships with others, to create more inclusive communities.
- We support opportunities for individuals to make and maintain connections which are important to them; these include friendships, family ties, work, shared interests, faith practices and other important relationships
We are committed to helping the people we support to build their Social Capital, which in turn helps to build more inclusive communities for everyone.
How are we doing this?
- By being involved
- By helping others
- By keeping in contact with friends
- Being a part of a team
Community Life “Better together”
Involving volunteers
Our aim is to help people become more connected within their community.
Volunteers can be the bridge that enables this to happen, by helping people to get involved or stay involved within the life of the community. It could be supporting friends to meet-up at the weekend, going to the cinema, shopping or the pub.
Its often the opportunity to share in the everyday activities, that makes a difference in people’s lives. Involving volunteers is one way of supporting people to make and keep friendships that are important to them, often it is the relationships we have with others that mean the most and add value to all our own lives.
“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others”- Ghandi
A Volunteers Perspective by Marijke Sleven
I met Peter during the summer of last year in Cheeverstown. Since then, the two of us (with the help of our personal chauffeur Gerry) have been going on weekly outings. Most of the time we go to the pub or the library and both of us enjoy it a great deal.
Peter has very little communication abilities but has developed his own way of communicating with little sounds, signs and eye contact. He brings a smile to the face of everyone he meets on our outings.
Peter gets a real kick of having people around him and saying hello to him. I really enjoy the outings as well. It is really rewarding to see Peter having a good time. I am also learning a lot. I have found that there are many more ways to communicate than by words.
It requires a good deal of creativity but with patience and a willing attitude I learn more every time I “talk” to Peter. My time with Peter also provides me with a change to my daily routine. Our busy lives sometimes make us forget about the things that are important. A pint of Guinness in Peter’s company is something I look forward to every week.
What does volunteering mean to me? By Karoliina Aedma
I guess we all have different reasons to get involved and sometimes we even discover new ‘reasons’ while being engaged in those activities.
For me personally it all started a while ago – when I was about 12 years old. Me and my friends, we started to organize a summer camp for children, well basically for young people who were almost same age as ourselves… and all that was so much fun! I guess this is one of the reasons I’ve always found doing things for others so easy – I enjoy that time as much as they do… I’m having fun! 
)
When coming abroad I got a bit ‘cut off’ but then I googled the Internet and found Cheeverstown. It seem to me the most easiest way to have some ‘fun’ again and not feel huge commitment… (I still feel ’scared’ to get involved with some big organization as I hate to feel that I HAVE TO do it not that I WANT TO do it)
I can still remember The First Time I went out with lads from Cheeverstown, the way they made me feel… again. That bunch of cheering and laughing strangers reminded me how simple life can be. Their joy for little things made me realize how much I have in my own life already and how those little things do make me happy. I had ‘lost’ that feeling for a while, and that probably was my reason to get involved with volunteering again.
But I also found another thing while sharing time with them. I’ve been with Cheeverstown 19 months now and every time I meet the lads I realize that even though some of them might have so called ’special needs’ they are exactly the same as everyone, any friend I’ve met in this life.
If you would like to find out more about becoming involved as a volunteer in Cheeverstown, you can download a volunteer application form and information sheet below or for more information call:
Gerry O’Connor
Socialisation Co-ordinator
Cheeverstown
Kilvare
Templeogue
Dublin 6w
01-4993765
086-8360804
Application form – volunteers-1
Read the Volunteers Guide 2012