Organisation determined to make a real difference

AS LOCKDOWN restrictions have eased this past week, the pressure on struggling families and the isolated has remained.

The most vulnerable still require help, and community groups and charities across Coventry and Warwickshire continue to work tirelessly to meet the need.

Coventry’s Irish community date back generations, but some, particularly the elders, have been struggling.

We heard from an organisation determined to make a difference and look past the pandemic to provide long term support to those who need it.

St Finbarr’s GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) Gaelic football club was established in the city in 1953. However their usual activities of hurling and football have been put on hold to make way for their large scale Covid-19 response operation.

Help from St Finbarr’s is available to everyone, but they have strong links with Coventry’s Irish community which has helped them identify the people in need of a care package.

But as Stephen Davies their assistant secretary explained, it hasn’t just been about the basics. Mr Davies said: “The Irish are a social group, the effects of this lockdown will be really challenging for them.

“Some of the families don’t need support because they do have a network, but we still drop a note in to say we are thinking of them.

“Some of our elderly Irish recipients have just enjoyed the social aspect of receiving help.”

The group has been helped out by their local Morrisons store on Holyhead road, as well as a network of local schools and Coventry’s Irish Society to hand out care packages with all of the basic essentials, and extras like games, jokes, and a weekly newsletter.

Mr Davies added: “We wanted to make a bit of a difference, we’re a community club but we wanted to be a bit more proactive.

“The community have really stepped up, we have had details passed on to us of those who need help.”

The group have helped a lot of local families too: “We have noticed that the need has gone up in recent weeks. 300 chocolate eggs were given out over Easter as well as our normal care packages.”

The group even stepped in to help local schools when many encountered errors in getting their free school meal vouchers processed.

In a week, St Finbarr’s club can deliver up to 100 care packages, but have those who need it been coming forward for help?

We spoke with Simon Mccarthy, CEO of Coventry’s Irish Society who