Monthly donations to Age NI doubled this September
Published on 01 September 2025 07:00 AM
Double your impact this September
Age NI is delighted to be part of the Big Give's Regular Giving Campaign. Set up a monthly gift this September and it will be matched for three months, making twice the impact to the lives of older people across Northern Ireland, like Sheila.
Meet Sheila
“Every day was waiting — waiting on the death of someone you love.”
That’s how Sheila describes the seven years she spent caring for her husband Seamus after his dementia diagnosis at just 63.
“I was left in a void. Everyone disappears. People don’t know what to say or how to handle it.”
During those years, Sheila was constantly on high alert, emotionally and physically drained, and socially isolated. She first connected with Age NI’s Check in and Chat service for a moment of respite, but at the time she didn’t have the headspace to think about herself.
After Seamus passed away, Sheila spent over two years navigating grief and loneliness. Then, in early 2025, a call from Mary, the Check in and Chat Co-ordinator, came at just the right time.
“I knew the time was right to come back to the service.”
Paired with a volunteer close to her age, Sheila found something she hadn’t felt in years: genuine connection.
Age NI has provided me with a friend who truly understands. I can be exactly myself. Family don’t fully understand, but my volunteer does. There’s a very real difference between sympathy and genuine empathy.
With each weekly call, Sheila began to heal. She started taking on projects around the house like changing windows, and renovating her bathroom, things she never imagined doing alone.
“My phone call gives me the strength to think about moving forward. Life is about healing and doing that bit better every day. You don’t ever forget, and life will never be the same, but you have to move forward.”
Age NI’s Check in and Chat service helped Sheila rediscover hope. Help us provide this lifeline to more older people across Northern Ireland when you double your impact this September.
Donate today and double your gift with the Big Give Regular Giving Campaign