Marinewatch has saved 115 lives in five years
SUICIDE Prevention Charity Wexford Marinewatch is celebrating its fifth anniversary, five years in which it has saved 115 people from self harm on the Quays.
So far Volunteers have dealt with 288 incidents along Wexford’s Quayfront and Bridge and saved 115 people from self-harm – proof that not only is there a need for the service, but that it is effective and ultimately saves lives,’ said MarineWatch founder and chief excutive Franl Flanagan.
The organisation has gone from strength to strength, starting off five years ago with just 15 volunteers to now over 120. It has grown in line with the demand for the service, with recruitment now open again for further volunteers for 2018.
‘This has been was a very busy year for us behind the scenes and a key turning point for us,’ said Frank.
‘We bolstered our number of volunteers, and the number of patrols.
‘We secured two new vehicles through a partnership deal with Wexford Volkswagen and invested in a lot of new safety equipment. We were also granted ‘Charity Status’ by the new Charities Regulator, after a lot of hard work.
Frank said the group’s management team had been restructured and new key appointments were made within the organisation to future-proof its rapid growth.
‘We have a new ‘Volunteer Handbook’, which covers all the training and courses that volunteers receive throughout their time in the organisation, along with a dedicated Health & Safety officer.. and has now become a well-recognised and respected organisation,’ he said.
The success of Marinewatch has not gone unnoticed either, often with donations coming from far and wide internationally – from including Australia and America and with other towns using the Wexford template to plan their own marine watches.
The organisation has received many awards recently, such as the ‘IPB Pride of Place’ award in 2016, along with being nominated for the ‘Local Authority LAMA Awards’ this year.
MarineWatch were runners up in the 2017 County Wexford Business Awards in the ‘Cor- porate Social Responsibility’ section, and were also presented with a plaque by the Mayor at a Civic Reception in their honor.
‘Marinewatch is very grateful for the support it receives from the Emergency Services and the financial support of the people of Wexford – without which it could not survive,’ said Frank.
‘We look forward to 2018 and hope to continue to reduce suicide rates in the town, showing people that there is always an alternative,’ he said.
Anyone in distress or requiring assistance can contact the Samaritans on 116123 or Pieta House on 1800 247247 24 hours a day.