Some of Ireland's unpaid heroes explain why they spend their time volunteering

Today marks the beginning of National Volunteering Week. Ellie O’Byrne pays tribute to our unpaid heroes.

Those who choose to give often get a lot back.

This will come as no surprise to the estimated 500,000 Irish people who do volunteer work of some sort each year, but a survey by Volunteer Ireland has revealed the extent of those benefits: 55% of volunteers reported an increase in their well-being and mental health, while 65% said their self-esteem was boosted by volunteering.