Social Justice

Working for Social Justice – a key cornerstone of our work

SVP is committed to identifying the root cause of poverty and social exclusion in Ireland and, in solidarity with people experiencing poverty and disadvantage, to advocate and work for the changes required to create a more just and caring society.

The National Social Justice Committee exists to:

- promote the social justice mission of the Society among the membership - proactively seek out information and detail about the issues and trends that members are experiencing in their Visitation/other work - develop proposed solutions and advocate for policy - - change to achieve positive outcomes in the lives of those that SVP assists - input into strategic work for the

Social Justice team - support the North Region Social

Justice Committee and work to address social inequality on an all-

Island basis

Why we work for Social Justice

Valuable data from CRM helps us to engage with elected officials and civil servants by presenting evidence and advocating on behalf of those we support.

We are able to raise awareness through the media by highlighting issues and campaigning for a more just society.

SVP can build public support for change through campaigns and coalitions.

In the North Region during the past year SVP has:

- Made a submission to the Committee for Work and Pensions on the impact of the five week wait for Universal Credit - Made a submission to the Department for Communities on the independent review of the Discretionary Support

Scheme - Joined the “Keep the Lifeline” campaign organised by Joseph Rowntree

Foundation calling on Government to retain the £20 uplift in the Universal

Credit - Engaged with the media on social justice issues to mark the International

Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Meet the member representatives of the Region’s Social Justice Committee:

Orla Conway Gerardine Cunningham, Chair Ciara McCullagh Malachy McKernan Eugene Reid

Supported by Mary Waide, Regional President and Pauline Brown, Regional Manager