2008/9: Paul Clabby working with GROW
In the course of overcoming depression himself, Paul Clabby, 35, turned to GROW, an international mental health organisation. Having successfully beaten the condition, Paul wanted to give something back.

Formerly a medical device technician from Galway, he is working with the Galway GROW group in the role of young adult co-ordinator. With depression affecting over 400,000 Irish people, Paul is keen to help young people facing the same problems he once faced.

2008/9: Ailish Irvine working with Mayo International Action
An English language teacher from Mayo, Ailish Irvine, 35, is working with Mayo Intercultural Action (MIA), a voluntary group that supports immigrants to develop skills to access employment. Ailish aims to break the cycle of isolation and create meaningful integration by developing an educational and training programme.

2008/9: Blanaid Mee working with Biobank
Originally from Kildare, Blanaid Mee, 31, is laboratory assistant with St James’s Hospital. During her World of Difference year she has worked as a technician working with “Biobank”, an initiative which aims to revolutionise cancer care, offering a bridge between cancer research and treatment.

2008/9: Helen O’Grady working with Doras Luimni
Helen O’Grady, 57, has held a long-term interest and passion in immigration. By working with Doras Lumini (door to Limerick), a charity focused on creating a development skills programme for immigrants in Limerick, she is putting her skills and interest to practical use.

2009/10 Winners

2009/10: Hagan Bolger working with Open Heart House
Hagan Bolger takes up the position of Communications Manager with Open Heart House, an organisation with a mission to empower and enhance the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. The only voluntary organisation of its kind in Ireland, the centre encourages a positive approach to living with HIV and AIDS by facilitating a supportive, safe and confidential network of peers nationwide. Hagan hopes his role will help the centre communicate to its members and stakeholders, building awareness of the organisation to those suffering from HIV and AIDS. He envisages his role will also help to widen understanding about HIV and AIDS amongst the general public.

2009/10 Aideen Lyster working with Coolmine Therapeutic Community
Aideen Lyster will work with Coolmine Therapeutic Community, a therapeutic community model where clients live in small structured drug-free communities while receiving treatment and rehabilitation for addiction to drugs and alcohol. The goal is to encourage psychological and lifestyle changes to enable people to maintain a drug-free existence. The treatment approach is based on peer support and active contribution to the running of the community.

Aideen has extensive experience in social work, education and training, and will take up the position of Education Coordinator/ Tutor and general Support Worker. She plans to introduce a new education programme to the community, enabling Coolmine clients to be fully functioning members of society when they leave the facility.

2009/10: Killian Stokes working with Global Charity Platform
Killian Stokes is co-founder of innovative charitable endeavour The Global Charity Platform. The organisation allows consumers to gather and donate unused loyalty points and air miles online as cash to support projects and charities working to combat extreme poverty in the developing world. Becoming CEO of the charity, Killian will concentrate on promoting GCP, raising capital and philanthropic support, securing other corporate support for the initiative, partnering with other appropriate overseas charities and recruiting Irish members to the charity.

2009/10: Fiona Sexton working with Volunteer Centres Ireland
Volunteer Centres Ireland is an independent national charity that seeks to increase the extent, range and quality of volunteering in Ireland. The current economic climate means that many charities are unable to fund salaried positions. Equally, many people are looking for tangible, meaningful volunteering roles which will improve or develop their skills set. Volunteer Centres Ireland operates as a placement service between individuals and a diverse range of organisations, through a network of 20 local volunteer centres nationwide.

Fiona will take up the position of Project Manager for the "Volunteering Gap Project", a strategic plan to be implemented in the year to come. She will carry out an audit of charities' needs, analyse and translate this into real volunteering opportunities, develop a volunteer toolkit, create a training module, and design and roll-out a national volunteer campaign.