This week saw the publication of the book of the Young at Heart, Douglas, Senior  Citizen’s Group. I was happy to be able to speak at the launch of the publication with Minister Kathleen Lynch. The book is available from Phil Goodman who writes a column in Douglas Post, www.douglaspost.ie

 Below is an abstract from the Cork Independent on the 8 December 2012 on the work of Young at Heart:

After realising there was a demand for it, Phil Goodman set up Young at Heart Douglas Senior Citizens in 2004. Phil, who is the driving force behind the voluntary organisation, felt there were many elderly people who suffered from loneliness and lack of social contact and there wasn’t many facilities to cater for the needs of these people.

“I decided to set up the organisation because I felt there was a need in the community for it. I felt that older people needed to be involved in something to get them out of the house so I took the opportunity and went with it.”

In the seven years since Phil first set it up, Young at Heart has been a huge success in the Douglas area and it now has over 300 members involved.

“The organisation is growing the whole time,” says Phil. “We do lots of activities such as knitting, indoor bowling, tai chi, card playing and computer classes. We also have lots of events throughout the year and we go on a day trip every week so there is always something on, which is great.

“Our computer classes have also really taken off. They are completely booked out for the next two months and so far, 480 elderly people have taken the class which is a huge achievement. We do the classes in Douglas Community School and the principle and the students there have been fantastic and it is a great credit to them and the school.”

Care-Ring is a particularly special service that Young at Heart provides, whereby the volunteers reach out to the elderly in the Douglas area by regularly phoning them. The time that Phil devotes to Young at Heart is 100 per cent voluntary and her fierce determination and passion for the organisation is nothing short of incredible.

“I absolutely love what I do. I have always fundraised for charity and I come from a large family so caring for other people has always been a way of life for me. There is not a day of the week where there isn’t something going on.

“We call in to nursing homes in the area and play cards or knit or we meet up amongst ourselves for a chat and a cup of tea. I get great satisfaction from making people happy. Our organistaion gives people a chance to get out of their homes and have something to do and as long as they are happy, I’m happy!”