St Vincent de Paul needs to double its Cork membership to maintain services

As it launched an appeal for volunteers, the charity said it needs at least 300 new volunteers to continue its work. File picture: Larry Cummins

St Vincent de Paul says it needs to double its membership in Cork City to maintain its services amid mounting calls for help.

Membership numbers in the St Vincent de Paul South West region were decimated during the covid pandemic when they lost about 240 members since 2021 to stand at just over 270 members in Cork City today.

As it launched an appeal for volunteers, it said it needs at least 300 new volunteers to continue its work.

Member support co-ordinator Ellmarie Spillane said the charity can’t run the service the way it wants to because it just doesn’t have the members, and the heavy burden of maintaining services, including its vital home visits, has fallen on the remaining members.

“Our volunteers are passionate about what they do, and so dedicated to helping others, but some of them are getting to the stage of burnout, such is the demand for our services, and that’s a big worry for us,” she said.

Volunteers are required to help in all aspects of the charity’s work – from administration, data input and managing basic accounts, to home visitations.

Once callers make contact with SVP initially, a home visitation is arranged, where possible, and the volunteers call to hold face-to-face meetings and offer support in complete confidentiality before the needs are assessed and the help and support is organised.

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Given the sensitive nature of the work, an application form, garda vetting, and references are essential, and full home visitation training will be provided. Ideally, volunteers should have access to their own private transport because home visits may not be in the area in which they live.

Last year in Cork, the charity responded to almost 9,400 requests for help, providing crucial support to 19,674 families. It included delivering 18,660 hampers and meals, providing fuel support to 5,442 individuals and families, energy supports to 1,397 people, and supporting some 6,885 students across primary, secondary and third-level education.

It also helped prevent 97 families from becoming homeless.

Anyone interested in volunteering for SVP can visit svp.ie/volunteer or email [e-mail] or Annemarie O’Donovan - [e-mail].