Society of St Vincent de Paul (Ireland) National Management Council Report (Continued) For the year ended 31 December 2020
TRUSTEES REPORT Background The aim of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to tackle poverty in all its forms through home visitation, the delivery of services and the provision of practical assistance and supports to those in need. The Society derives its inspiration from St. Vincent de Paul and our founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, to do something practical about poverty and social exclusion whilst ensuring that the structures which have contributed to disadvantage are removed. We strive in a spirit of justice, charity, and respect through the personal involvement of members and employees, to enable those experiencing exclusion to take control of their own lives. We do not seek to impose our beliefs on the people we work with, rather we use them as the guiding inspiration for our work. We are a Society open to all who wish to live their faith by loving and serving their neighbours. In Ireland, we welcome all people who accept the principles under which we work. We serve everyone in need, regardless of creed, race, colour, ideology, or gender. The concept of need is broader than financial hardship, so, visiting those that are ill, the lonely and the imprisoned form a large proportion of the Society's work. Our mission statement sets out the three core principles of what we hope to achieve, namely: Support and Friendship: Through a person to person contact, we are committed to respecting the dignity of those we assist and fostering self-respect. We assure confidentiality at all times and endeavour to establish relationships based on trust and friendship. Promoting Self-Sufficiency: We believe It is not enough to provide short-term material support. Those we assist are also helped to achieve self-sufficiency in the longer term and the sense of self- worth this provides. When problems are beyond our competence, we build bridges of support with others who can provide more specialised support. Working for Social Justice: We are committed to identifying the root causes of poverty and social exclusion in Ireland and, in solidarity with those in need, to advocate and work for the changes required to create a more just and caring society. In striving to achieve the mission, we are guided by our values which are: • • • • • •
Respect Love of neighbour Joy through mission Personal contact with those in need Humility Empathy
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