The downside of the economic boom of the past 20 years is the loss of much of our direct human contact, the launch of COPE Galway’s development strategy was told earlier this week.
Fintan Maher, the director of communications and development with the organisation - which provides a refuge for women and children affected by domestic violence, accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, and sustenance and social supports for older people - said many people have become more isolated as a result.
“With the economic boom of the last 20 years people’s lives have got busier and busier. Technology, which has made our lives more convenient through online shopping, banking, emailing, texting and automated call centres, has done so at a price. We have lost much of our direct human contact and many members of our society have become more isolated.”
He explained that the purpose of COPE’s new strategy is to broaden its focus to being an organisation which targets the causes of isolation as well as providing services for those experiencing its effects.
Its key elements include developing stronger connections with local people, he says.
“COPE Galway will enable the people of Galway to recognise and address the causes of inequality and isolation through two way communications with the community we serve. We also want to develop a strong independent voice on behalf of our community and grow our voluntary income from private sources to 40 per cent in order to expand the range of services we provide for clients, such as a suite of accommodation and support options which cater for a range of needs.”
The voluntary organisation - which provided more than 13,000 bed nights for men and women experiencing homelessness, more than 40,000 meals to older people living in Galway, and refuge for more than 170 women and 270 children experiencing domestic violence in the past year - is also committed to developing a vibrant volunteer recruitment programme in the Community through COPE Galway’s “Reach Out” campaign.
Other targets include delivering a capital campaign of €10m over five years for the development of new facilities.
“In launching this new strategy COPE Galway is calling on the community to recognise that we can make a difference. By working together to promote togetherness we can help address isolation and inequality and in so doing we can create a stronger, healthier community for all.”
Orla O’Regan, fundraising assistant with COPE, says long term the organisation plans to carry out extensive research into the areas with which it deals.
“We hope to appoint a research executive and do a lot of studies on the areas we deal with. The information will be presented back to the community to make people more aware of what is going on.”
