New president for SVP Mitchelstown
While business remains as usual at Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) in Mitchelstown, a slight change in conference structure means that Breege Linehan, former secretary, will now be stepping up to the president’s role, while long-time holder of the role Liam Roche will be stepping aside after many years of dedicated service.
However, Liam is ‘not going anywhere’ and will still be in the organisation, offering what Breege describes as ‘ years of experience’. Ms Linehan is taking the title of president of the conference, and Marian Quinlan will step into her former role of secretary.
“I’ve a bit to learn”, says Breege, “but I’m learning from the master. We’re all colleagues here, and we won’t be losing Liam’s experience and knowledge. It is what it is today because of his hard work.”
Mr Roche has been president of the conference for roughly 18 years, though not consecutively. With the new shuffle, Eddie Lynch will take the role of treasurer, and Noelle Finn vice-president. Bríd Brophy will continue working on various schemes, including helping to secure alarms for the elderly, and liaising with Electric Ireland on the Covid Hardship Fund.
SVP is seeing an increase in requests for assistance since January, with rising costs affecting the population generally, but increasing rents and a housing shortage being a prevalent recurring theme.
Breege, who has been with SVP for 25 years, was also a volunteer with the Citizen’s Information Centre in town before it closed during lockdown, and brings with her a wealth of practical experience to the centre.
“We work with people to make sure they now what they are entitled to and they’re getting it. We also stay up-to-date with any new schemes, or things that people can apply for to help them along,” she said.
RECRUITMENT DRIVE
The practicalities of living in a rural town and being on a tight budget is something that SVP are very familiar with. One of the services they offer is to take people to hospital appointments in Cork or especially Limerick, whereby an ill person is miles from the hospital, has no car, and to get to Limerick by public transport takes at least four buses, and a trip of hours each-way.
A national recruitment drive is underway to join the valuable and well-established organisation, and Liam is eager for people to get on-board, particularly those with good, practical knowledge and skills to help in any way they can. The organisation has 11 houses in the locality, so anyone who can do practical work in the houses is welcome. Those with good IT skills, and not afraid of a little responsibility, are also asked to consider joining SVP as a volunteer. There is no commitment, and volunteers are simply asked to help in any way they can.
“We have a lot of new users here since January, and we do see a lot of worry and mental anguish. People see themselves in an impossible situation. They don’t want to be here - SVP is their last resort. But the first meeting is the most difficult - after that, it gets easier. We reassure them, and then the second meeting is a little easier again.”
To learn more about SVP, or to enquire about volunteering, please contact SVP Mitchelstown on 025 84733 or visit them online.