About us
A new organisation, built on a simple purpose
First Friend Ireland is being established as a company limited by guarantee in Ireland — a non-profit, member-led organisation for anyone who wants to build belonging.
Where we are right now
Our purpose
Mission
To promote inclusivity, age-friendliness, disability-friendliness, anti-racism and a sense of belonging for everyone living in, working in, or connected to Ireland — through friendship, community, volunteering, mentoring and advocacy.
Looking ahead
Vision
A future in which no one in Ireland feels like a stranger — where a first connection is always within reach, and where age, disability, background or circumstance are never barriers to belonging.
Our story
How First Friend Ireland began
First Friend Ireland is being founded by a small group of people in Ireland who saw the same pattern repeatedly: someone new to a place — through migration, age, disability, or simple bad luck — wanting to belong, without an easy, safe way to get there.
First Friend Ireland is being established as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act 2014, with the object of promoting inclusivity, age-friendliness, disability-friendliness, anti-racism and a sense of belonging for people living in, working in, or connected to Ireland — irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, national or cultural origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or any other status. It works towards that through events, campaigns, training, workshops and community programmes; through a voluntary network of members, volunteers, institutions and supporters, including local chapters across Ireland; and through partnership with statutory, community, educational and other organisations in Ireland and internationally. The organisation operates on a non-profit, independent and inclusive basis, with any income or property applied solely to these aims.
What we believe
Our values
Belonging is for everyone
Our mission spans age, disability, ethnicity, culture, migration and circumstance. We do not treat any one group as the whole of our work.
Connection is structured, not accidental
We build deliberate, supported ways for people to meet — with safeguarding, consent and training behind every connection.
Volunteers are the organisation
First Friend Ireland is a voluntary-led movement. We invest in training and supporting the people who carry out its work.
Local, and locally led
Belonging happens in communities, not in the abstract — our chapter model is built to put local people in charge of local connection.
Honest about where we are
We are a new organisation. We say so plainly, and we will not claim a history, a status or an impact we have not yet earned.
Founding team
Who's behind it
Named in the draft constitution as First Friend Ireland's founding officers. Full governance detail — including how directors are appointed and how the board operates — is on our Governance & Constitution page.
Ashish Sharma
Founding Chairperson & Director
Sachin Yadav
Director
Chirag Sharma
Company Secretary
Anirban
Founding Mentor (Advisory)
Advisory role — not a director or officer of the Company.