Community Projects
Search for Volunteering Opportunities
New opportunities added daily. Powered by Be Collective.
Community projects includes a range of volunteer led services for some of the most vulnerable older people in our community. This includes befriending, driving, and shopping support services for isolated older people living in Belfast.
We also provide a volunteer transport service for the SEHSCT in Ards and North Down for ‘looked after’ children and younger people. If you would like more information on these projects visit the ‘Volunteer with us’ section.
Capacity Building Work
Volunteer Now also supports the network of volunteer led older persons groups and forums in Belfast through our capacity building work including:
The Greater Shankill Senior Citizens Forum – local forum for older people who live in the Greater Shankill area, the forum meets the 3rd Friday of the month at Shankill library. For more information on the Forum contact Deirdre Murphy
Volunteer Now coordinates a seniors page in the monthly edition of the Shankill Mirror , highlighting older peoples services, activities and events
West Belfast 50+ Forum – local forum for older people living in West Belfast, the forum meets the last Friday of the month at Springfield Charitable Association. For more information on the Forum contact Deirdre Murphy
G6 (Greater Belfast Seniors) – Volunteer Now supports the G6 made up of representative from the 6 senior citizens forum across Belfast. The G6 meets once a month and provides a platform for a co-ordinated voice of older people across the City.
This helps to sustain and strengthen a network of groups to combat growing social isolation and loneliness amongst older people by encouraging older people to take an active role in their communities. Dedicated volunteers are at the heart of community projects, showcasing how their efforts can make a positive difference to their lives, and to the lives of the most marginalised sections of our society.
Older and Active Programme
Community Projects through funding from PHA delivers a yearly activity programme for older people across Belfast, to encourage them to stay active and engaged. Activities include:-
Line dancing
Mens Health Day
Womens Health Day
Mens Volunteering Challenges
Men 2 Men publication
Support for older men’s groups through a small grant programme
Keep an eye on this page for up-and-coming events and information, or contact Pamela Higgins to be added to our mailing list
Newsletters
Read our latest Newsletters here:
Men2Men newsletter Winter 2023
Older Peoples Newsletter Spring 2024
Contact Us
If you are working in Belfast with older people in a statutory, community or voluntary capacity or you are an older person who would like to join an existing older persons group or you would like to start up a new group then contact:
Lindsay Armstrong, Community Projects Manager: Lindsay.Armstrong@volunteernow.co.uk
Deirdre Murphy, Capacity Building: Deirdre.Murphy@volunteernow.co.uk
Victoria O’Neill, Befriending: Victoria.o’neill@volunteernow.co.uk
Lauren Harrison-Hogan, Volunteer Driving & Shopping Support: Lauren.Harrison-Hogan@volunteernow.co.uk
Latest News
Beyond grades: how volunteering helps young people shine
1 August 2025
As students across Northern Ireland await exam results and plan their next steps, a growing number of young professionals and students are feeling the impact of volunteering on their career and educational journeys. Giving time to the community is proving to be a powerful differentiator in today’s competitive landscape. Emily Burke (20) from Newtownabbey started […]
Read More
Department of Communities Developing Regulations for a Charity Registration Threshold
23 July 2025
The role of volunteers as trustees is vitally important and the increasing strain felt by these volunteers as bureaucracy increases has been evident. Volunteer Now therefore welcomes the announcement that the Department of Communities is developing regulations for the introduction of a £20k income and £100k asset charity registration threshold. The regulations are anticipated to […]
Read More
Invitation from Ending Violence Against Women and Girls team
18 July 2025
Invitation to participate in research on masculinities and attitudes of men and boys in relation to violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. The Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Team at the Executive Office, would like to share with you an Invitation from Queen’s University who are inviting individuals, young men aged […]
Read More
Could you be our next Trustee?
17 July 2025
We are keen to elect some new Trustees from our member organisations We are looking for people who are strong supporters of volunteering, who are interested in good governance and who want to help to shape the services and support which Volunteer Now provides to volunteers and organisations. Trustee’s meetings are usually in the late […]
Read More
