DEPAUL NEWS
Volume 3 | Issue 2| June 2010
It i s g r e a t to se e t he s u p p or t w e ha v e r e c e i v e d i n the l a st q u a r te r f r om c om p a n i e s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s. A s a n on - p r of i t De p a u l i s hu g e l y r e l i a n t on the g o od w i l l of othe r s to c on ti n u e o u r w or k . W e n ow ha v e ou r r e g u l a r e v e n ts l i k e E l e c tr i c P i c n i c a n d the W om e n ’s Mi n i Ma r a th on w hi c h I a m d e l i g hte d to se e a r e g r ow i n g ste a d i l y y e a r on y e a r . I a m a lw a y s look i n g f or n e w w a y s to g e t p e op l e i n v ol v e d i n f u n d r a i si n g f or De p a u l , the m or e c r e a ti v e the b e t te r . O u r f u n d r a i si n g te a m w e l c om e a l l su g g e sti o n s a n d su p p or t i n r a i si n g m on e y a n d De p a u l ’s p r of i l e a n d the y w ou l d l ov e to he a r f r om y ou a t su p p or t e r @d e p a u l i r e l a n d . or g . I hop e y ou a l l ha ve a f a n ta sti c su m m e r !
Kerry Anthony, Anthony, Chief Executive KERRY VISITS BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO COLLECT MBE On the 21st May, Kerry, CEO collected her MBE from Prince Charles at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace. Kerry received the honour for her service to social housing, in the field of homelessness. Speaking after the event Kerry said, “An award like this can never be about just one person, I am very happy to be receiving this award but believe that this is a reflection of the work of everyone in Depaul Ireland. “We would only have been noticed because of what people do every day in all our services to support the most marginalised within our society. I have enjoyed all aspects of my work with homeless people over the years and to see the sector being recognised in this way is superb.” At 35, Kerry was the youngest person in Northern Ireland to make the New Year honours list. “I became interested in social care at an early stage and engaged in a lot of community work while at school. I started my career 13 years ago and believe I was very lucky at 22 to have found my passion in life.” Kerry just after receiving her MBE
LIFE'S NO PICNIC ON THE STREETS 2010 We are proud to announce that 2010 will be our third time with a presence at the Electric Picnic festival. Planning by the fundraising team, in collaboration with artists and musicians, is officially underway for Life’s No Picnic on the Streets Exhibition this September. The exhibition is an opportunity to break negative stereotypes that exist with regards to homeless people – by showcasing some of their many talents. Depaul Ireland works with some of the most vulnerable in the homeless community and our services users, who have histories of being street homeless with acute substance misuse issues, have become enthusiastically involved in the preparations for Electric Picnic this year. As a direct result of preparing for EP for the last two years, our Sundial accommodation project for street drinkers, now has two art sessions every week. This is a strong therapeutic intervention with people who for many years may have been overlooked by others, never mind being recognised as people with talent. The lads are already incredibly excited about EP this year and have their art work underway. The last two years have been well attended and we are planning to take ‘Life’s no picnic’ further this year at the festival and are thinking of creative ways to engage festival goers with the issue of homelessness. If you want to know more and keep updated, visit our website and follow www.facebook.com/lifesnopicniconthestreets
Peter at Electric Picnic 2009
FUNDRAISING NEWS CASTLEHILL STAFF & SERVICE USERS COMPLETE THE ARMAGH 10K On the 18th of April, a number of staff and service users from Castlehill accommodation project in Dungannon, supported each other to get back on their feet and walk/jog/run the Armagh 10k. As part of the 'Back on Your Feet' initiative, they trained, prepared and encouraged each other along the way. Way to go, guys!
CONFIRMATION STUDENTS FUNDRAISE FOR DEPAUL Confirmation students from Children's Ark in Celbridge, decided to raise awareness and funds for Depaul. Students held a badge design competition in their confirmation class-the prize being that the winning design would be made into badges for the candidates to sell in aid of Depaul. In a matter of weeks, they raised an impressive €604.51 to help those who find themselves homeless and in need of Depaul Ireland services. They also decided to donate additional badges to Depaul to continue fundraising. A huge thank you goes out to the young people, their parents and all those who were involved in making the project such a success! For more information on how your school, church or community group can learn more and get involved, please contact Ria in the fundraising team at supporter@depaulireland.org.
DEPAUL SUPPORTERS FINISH FLORA MINI MARATHON….DESPITE THE RAIN! The rain didn't stop Depaul Ireland service users, staff, volunteers and supporters from taking on the challenge of getting back on their feet for the Flora Women's Mini Marathon. Team Depaul joined over 40,000 women and men dressed as women to participate in the largest event of its kind in the world, which each year raises millions of euros for charity work around the world. This year's Depaul Ireland runners/joggers/walkers were encouraged by the cheerleaders who braved the rain and came along to support them! Congratulations to the finishers and many thanks to all for supporting the work of Depaul Ireland. You can support the fundraising efforts of those who completed the race, by making a donation on www.depaulireland.org or through Depaul Ireland’s page on MyCharity. If you'd like more information on joining Team Depaul and participating in an upcoming race of your choice, check out the ‘Back on you Feet’ section of the website, join us on Facebook or contact Rachel in the fundraising team at +353 (0) 1 453 7111 or teamdepaul@depaulireland.org. We'd love to hear from you!
Page 2
DEPAUL NEWS
Volume 3 | Issue 2| June 2010
DEPAUL NEWS STELLA MARIS GARDEN IS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE LORD MAYOR OF BELFAST For one of her last visits as Lord Mayor, Naomi Long visited Depaul Ireland’s Stella Maris accommodation project on 28th May. The visit launched a new garden which was developed for residents by volunteers from SISK construction. At the event, residents presented a hand made mosaic as a thank you to SISK (Picture inset). Speaking during the visit, Ms. Long applauded the good work being carried out in Stella Maris. “I am delighted to visit such an innovative project happening within our community. I am hugely impressed by the work that is happening on a daily basis and can see the real difference it is making in the lives of those who live here. I am particularly glad to see that in our City, there is a progressive response to dealing with the marginalized in our society.” This is the second time SISK has transformed part of a Depaul hostel. Last year they developed a new staff room complete with microwave and dishwasher in Backlane as well as an activities room and new storage. We are, as always, very grateful to SISK for their generous support.
Staff , service users and SISK employees at the new garden
TUS NUA ANNUAL REVIEW DAY Tus Nua Apartments held its Annual review day on 25th May. The event included a review of Tus Nua’s work in 2009 along with guest speakers from Trinity and Chrysalis, who discussed issues affecting marginalized women in society. At the event Project manager, Christine Littlefield, highlighted that 2009 was a year of success for Tus Nua. “We continue to provide a flexible approach and the space necessary for each service user to address personal challenges, and make positive plans and choices for their future, in order to reintegrate back into wider society. By continuing to develop the low threshold ethos in Tus Nua, we are committed to make sure that the women who most need the service can access it easily. “Women come to Tus Nua often after experiencing difficult lives frequently associated with factors such as poverty, substance abuse, family dysfunction, low educational attainment, histories of abuse both in childhood and adulthood, intergenerational criminal behaviour and histories of homelessness. Many of the women at Tus Nua by virtue of their personal criminal history and having been a prisoner in the Dochas, have acquired further marginalisation and stigmatisation. “ “It is vital that women, who have been marginalised in our society, are given the opportunity to realise their full potential in a respectful and inclusive environment.” “I was extremely nervous about beginning my tenancy at Tus Nua. I had been told by others that I wouldn’t like it but this was proven to be untrue. I have got so much support from staff and was made feel very welcome when I arrived. There is always a friendly positive approach to things here. I am happy I made my own decision about coming. There are loads of activities to get involved in with staff and volunteers. I hope to stay at Tus Nua for 12 months and work on my issues, I really like living here.” Service User, Tus Nua, aged 23 Page 3
DEPAUL NEWS
Volume 3 | Issue 2| June 2010
DEPAUL NEWS STAFF FETAURES New Volunteer Coordinator, Orla McAndrew, has been with Depaul Ireland since 2006 where she began volunteering with the newly established Community Befriending Programme. Orla saw volunteering as a means of learning more about homelessness, giving something back and a possible starting point towards a career change. She always admired the professionalism, friendliness, ethos and mission of Depaul Ireland as a volunteer and says that she continued volunteering in Depaul Ireland for many reasons. Volunteers are motivated when they are respected, valued, supported, happy and confident in their work. She witnessed first hand the huge benefits of the programme to the men, understanding the terrible isolation that many face when leaving Back Lane hostel to live independently. She quickly realised the value in a cup of tea and a listening ear when there is no one to talk to from one week to the next. In 2008, Orla made the decision to leave her job and began volunteering full time working between Depaul Ireland, the Vincentian Refugee Centre and the Vincentian Lay Missionaries where she spent 3 months volunteering in Ethiopia. On her return she began a full time MPhil in Ethnic and Racial studies in Trinity College. On completion of her masters Orla was offered the position of acting befriending coordinator in December 2009. She believes her experience as a befriending volunteer helped her to adapt to her role quickly. She has had the privilege of coordinating a programme that currently supports 25 men with the help of 28 volunteers. With the gentle encouragement and informal support of their volunteers there have been many success stories within the programme this year alone where participants have battled with addictions, sustained their tenancies, reconnected with families and children and enrolled in training programmes. After 5 months working as befriending coordinator, Orla has been offered the position of volunteer coordinator in Depaul Ireland. Orla is very much looking forward to the new challenges this role will present. She believes her work with participants and her experience as a volunteer and coordinator will be of great benefit to her in this role.
NEWS ROUND UP CLOVERHILL FOOTBALL TEAM
YOGA FOR DEPAUL
Residents’ football team, from Cloverhill family project, finished third in the Belfast street soccer league. The team also took part in the all Ireland competition in Dublin in April. As well as being a great football team, they also spend time training the children of Cloverhill every Wednesday afternoon after school. They are now taking part in the street league again and hope to win the cup!
ROI HR manager and yoga teacher, Lisa Quish, offered free yoga classes to a number of employees for a six week period, in return for donations to Depaul. Lisa says that “the donation based model is becoming more popular now that we are in a recession. It is a model that generates goodwill, which in yoga terms is called karma.”
The team all kitted out
Lisa Quish
DRIVE AHEAD GET NEW COMPUTERS Thanks to SEI, who donated six much needed computers, Drive Ahead can continue to provide training in preparation for further employment, such as developing their C.V., completing application forms and developing interviewing skills. The new computers arriving in Drive Ahead
Belfast Office/ 38 University Street, Belfast +44 28 90 20 2245 /T depaul@depaulireland.org /E Company Registration No. N1054106 Charity Registration No. XR87991
Dublin Office/ 18 Nicholas Street, Dublin 8 +353 1 4537110 /T depaul@depaulireland.org/E Company Registration No. 357 828 Charity Registration No. CHY 14753