Kilrush Credit Union Celebrates Volunteer Week with Community Wellbeing Project in West Clare

Kilrush Credit Union Celebrates Volunteer Week Through Community Connection 🌱

As part of National Volunteer Week, Kilrush Credit Union is proud to highlight the people and partnerships at the heart of our Community Active Age & Wellbeing Project — a local ESG initiative focused not only on biodiversity and accessible outdoor spaces, but also on connection, inclusion and community participation.

While our first update on Earth Day focused on the environmental impact of rewilding and pollinator-friendly planting, this stage of the project shines a light on the “Social” element of ESG, the relationships, shared experiences and sense of belonging that meaningful community projects can create.

For many of the Clarecare clients involved, these activities provide valuable opportunities for social interaction, gentle engagement and connection with the wider community in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

As part of the project, Kilrush Credit Union has been holding two weekly community sessions with the group, creating opportunities to spend time together, get creative and build relationships along the way. Throughout this month, the sessions have focused on art and upcycling, with clients decorating and repainting old plant pots that will soon become part of the finished garden spaces. Next month, the project moves into its next stage as planting begins and the gardens start to take shape.

Another especially rewarding part of the project has been getting to know the team at WoodWebs, part of Corlann, who are handcrafting the benches and planters for the gardens. Members of the Kilrush Credit Union team have really enjoyed calling in to see the progress being made, getting updates on the pieces being built and, most importantly, spending time with the fantastic people behind the work.

Seeing the craftsmanship, creativity and pride that goes into everything produced at WoodWebs has added a real sense of connection and meaning to the project, highlighting the importance of community partnerships and the positive impact local organisations can create when working together.

Projects like this remind us that community wellbeing is built through participation and shared purpose. Conversations over tea, time spent together outdoors, and seeing different groups come together around a positive local initiative can have just as much impact as the finished garden itself.

Volunteer Week is an important reminder that small acts of time, kindness and collaboration can create lasting impact. Whether it’s lending a hand with planting, sharing skills and craftsmanship, or simply showing up to support one another, every contribution helps strengthen the social fabric of our community.

We are incredibly grateful to all the organisations, volunteers and individuals helping bring this project to life.

As the gardens continue to grow over the coming months, so too will the friendships, connections and shared sense of pride that projects like this help cultivate.

Because at its heart, this project is about people.