Our People


Eamon Quinn

Director

Eamon has over twenty years’ experience working within the Arts and Charity sectors.  He was General Manager of Tinderbox Theatre Company from 1996-2004.  In fundraising he has worked with the Culture and Arts Department of Queen’s University of Belfast and he was Head of Fundraising for War on Want NI.  As a consultant his clients have included Arts Care and Young at Art.  He continues as the Northern Ireland Advisor for Comic Relief and also teaches on the Arts Management MA at Queen’s University.  Eamon is a Trustee of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education.

Email: eamon.quinn@engagewithage.org.uk

Tel: 028 9073 5696


Patricia Barrett

Operations Manager

Patricia joined Engage with Age in April 2021.  Patricia has significant experience within the private and charity sectors, and was previously Head of Administration for Cancer Focus.

Patricia has operational management responsibility for Engage with Age.

Email: Patricia.barrett@engagewithage.org.uk

Tel: 028 9073 5696


Anna Albrzykowska

Development Officer – East Belfast

Anna has had a varied career working in the arts, hospitality and education sectors. Anna has worked in Community Development across Belfast for many years. Anna works with groups throughout East Belfast and supports the Belfast East Seniors Forum.

Email: anna.albrzykowska@engagewithage.org.uk

Tel: 028 9073 5696

Mobile: 07425 627531

 


Cathy Chambers

Development Officer – South Belfast

Cathy joined EWA in 2014.  Cathy has previously worked across the Borough of Castlereagh in partnership with the voluntary, community and statutory sector in a community development capacity.  She currently delivers a health improvement programme for older people across South Belfast, which includes supporting older people’s groups and supporting the South Belfast Lifestyle Forum.

Email: cathy.chambers@engagewithage.org.uk

Tel: 028 9073 5698

Mobile: 07468695593


John McCandless

Development Officer – Capacity Building Programme

John has worked in community development since 2002.  He has previously worked as a Youth and Family Worker for Carryduff Presbyterian Church, an Activity Co-ordinator for Clanmill Housing, and a Community Outreach Officer for Mountpottinger and Merseyside Presbyterian Church. 

For Engage with Age John supports the operation and development of the G6 Greater Belfast Seniors’ Forum, and delivers a capacity building programme for groups across Belfast that develops their capacity to operate, run programmes and achieve their goals.

Email: john.mccandless@engagewithage.org.uk

Tel: 028 9073 5696

 


Paul Hendry

Groups Activities Officer – the PAL Project

Paul has extensive experience working with older people through
previous employment. He has worked with the Chest Heart and Stroke
Association and was a Community Link Worker for Macmillan through
the Connected Community Care Hub at Belfast Health and Social Care
Trust.

For the PAL Project Paul engages older people who have experienced
loneliness in activity groups. The types of activities include social
groups, walking groups and a dance group.

Email: palproject@engagewithage.org.uk
Tel: 07436 174793


Sharyn Ruseckas

Befriending Officer/ Job Share (Maternity cover) – the PAL Project

Sharyn shares the Befriending Officer post with Sarah.  Sharyn has a wide range of experience working with the public and has been a front of house manager with the Waterfront/ Ulster Hall and an events manager with the MayWe Agency, most recently at 2 Royal Avenue.


Sarah Gordon

Befriending Officer/ Job Share – the PAL Project

Sarah has worked with Engage with Age helping to establish the Telephone Befriending programme and was the Befriending Officer between 2021-2023. 

Sarah also works as an arts facilitator and artist with a range of organisations.


Anna O’Kane

Dementia Friendly Artist in Residence

Anna studied at the Art College at Ulster University and has a BA in Jewellery and Silversmithing and a postgraduate diploma in Art and Design. Anna has over 30 years’ experience working as a Community Artist. Her work with Engage with Age includes working as Artist on the Ulster University TESA DRI research programme, developing Art and Dementia training methodologies, facilitating dementia art workshops for the Festival of Windows in 2021 and 2022, and working as Dementia Friendly Artist in Residence from December 2022.

Contact Engage with Age

Email: info@engagewithage.org.uk

Telephone: 028 9073 5696.


Engage with Age can accept referrals of individual older people aged 50+ who are at risk of loneliness and social isolation, inviting them to participate in group activities. Engage with Age offers one-to-one telephone befriending support for individual older people but does not currently provide in person visits to individual older people. To make a referral please complete the on-line Referral Form and submit or alternatively please print off a copy of the PDF Referral Form and send it to us. See also the Referral Criteria for details of who can be referred.

Referral Form Referral Criteria