The response to Making Connections new year volunteer recruitment drive showed huge interest in supporting older people experiencing loneliness and isolation in our community. The charity hosted induction training for new volunteers on January 29th. Training was provided by Mary O’Donohue and participants engaged in a lively discussion about the negative health effects of loneliness.… Read More
Making Connections was honoured to have been selected in the Small Business category of the Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Business Chamber awards 2018, held in Fitzpatrick Hotel Killiney on September 27th 2018 This award was for businesses who have shown growth and quality of management. It was sponsored by Bank of Ireland and the charity was… Read More
Making Connections befrienders & befriendees who have an interest in Art were lucky to get a private tour of the RHA annual exhibition followed by light refreshments on the terrace of Coppa Café. Making Connections participants at Royal Hibernian Academy
Mary O’Donohue speaking with Dublin Business School Student Union about the work of Making Connections & discussing ways they can get involved with the charity in the coming academic year. Mary O’Donohue with DBS Student Union
Muireann O’Shea a 3rd yr medical student representing AMSI UCD organised a panel discussion around Ageing Ireland, the Reality of Healthcare. The panel included experts on geriatrics gerontology and speakers with personal experiences of navigating the healthcare system. Mary O’Donohue Making Connections & Muireann O’Shea 3rd yr Medical Student UCD
The aim of the club is to facilitate inter-generational human connection by bringing together UCD Community with members of the wider community. People from 12 to 112 years old will come and have fun enjoying the company, conversation, and puzzle completion. Club will run for 2 hours and people can drop in for as little… Read More
Helen, who is a team member of Making Connections, actively participated in the Touchstone Course held in the O’Brien Centre UCD. The objective of the course was to develop the skills and knowledge of people wanting to make their communities more age friendly. Helen Collings from Making Connections with Holly Dignam UCD in the Community
Volunteers recently accompanied the people they visit to two shows in Pavilion theatre. Phil Coulter and Emer Quinn wowed the audience with their performances and Making Connections group was lucky enough to meet both artists afterwards One older lady said it was ‘a surreal experience, I could have stayed there forever’. Most of these older… Read More
We are excited to welcome Karen O’Connor who joined the staff recently. Karen is from Wexford and holds a B.Soc Science from Maynooth University and a Master of Arts in Sociology UCC. She has experience working with a variety of Community based agencies which will be a great asset to the core work of our… Read More
We had our second outing of ‘dlr Cultural Connections’ last night when we accompanied a group of volunteers and older people to see a play called ‘My Aunt Bee’ at Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire. An Irish comedy of sorts, the play was thoroughly enjoyed by those in attendance. However, what stood out most for… Read More
We were delighted today to launch the our new ‘dlr Cultural Connections’ programme. This exciting new initiative will provide opportunities for older people in our community with an interest in the Arts to attend various different events they wouldn’t ordinarily have the chance to attend! This evening we all attended the new film Lion at… Read More
Ever think of the impact of the long dark Winter days on the older generation in your family? Did you know, research shows loneliness and isolation is worse for our health than smoking fifteen cigarettes a day and twice as deadly as obesity? In our own community, many older people are facing endless days alone… Read More
Making Connections Designer Rail Sale Sat 12 November 2016 Wigwam 54 Middle Abbey Street 12.00 – 2.00 Presale Exclusive with Prosecco & Afternoon Tea (€50) 2.00 – 4.00 Regular Admission (€20) A one-time only chance to bag yourself some real fashion treats, Dublin-based charity Making Connections is hosting the fashion event of the season. Take… Read More
Making Connections helped kick off the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Festival of Inclusions 2016 with the “Connecting Generations” event hosted by Airfield estate Dundrum on Saturday 8th October. The CEO of Airfield, Gráinne Kelliher, warmly welcomed everyone and praised the work of Making Connections; “I am so impressed by the obvious friendships that have blossomed through… Read More
Here at Making Connections giving is in our DNA. However, since we are a charity we must count on giving as a way to grow and progress. We want to make special mention of a behind-the-scenes donor who has made a huge impact to our growth. Bernard Flynn is a business trailblazer in every way.… Read More
Connecting the generations when the clocks go back When the clocks go back an hour, it’s an extra hour in bed right? But what if we could gain so much more? Non-profit organisation, Making Connections has launched Give an Hour Gain an Hour to challenge people to use their extra hour to share some good… Read More
Making Connections volunteers invited by a supporter of the charity to the RHA Annual Exhibition Left to right: Chris Shauna Suzanne Mary Rocio Emma Sue and Joe
At Making Connections, volunteers are the real heart of the organisation. This month, a group of existing volunteers joined us for an evening to share their befriending experiences and to share their ideas about the growth of the organisation. We also hosted an induction meeting to welcome a new group of new volunteers to the… Read More
Making Connections were invited to be part of the UCD Mind Body Soul Festival. UCD Students Union are partnering with Making Connections this year to implement ‘Give an Hour Gain an Hour’ an exciting new campaign pilot project. We were amazed by the interest and positive feedback from all the UCD students.
Congratulations to the Making Connections Team who were jumping for joy after completing the DLR 10k to support the volunteer befriending programme that we do in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. We even got a mention by Dublin’s Q102 at the start line!