Following a record number of calls for help in 2021, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP ) in Mayo has launched a regional campaign seeking volunteers.
The SVP branches across Mayo are reaching out to encourage people to come forward and join St Vincent de Paul in their local or neighbouring community.
SVP stated: "During 2021 a total of just over 191,000 calls for help were made to the Society throughout the country. This is 12% up on the number of calls in 2020 and the highest on record for the Society. In Mayo, calls for assistance resulted in local volunteers providing assistance to vulnerable households by providing food hampers, fuel and educational supports.
"The Mayo campaign for volunteers will focus on the Visiting Conferences (Branches ), Shops and in the Social Housing Conferences. Their visiting Conferences exist in every parish and community across Mayo and their local volunteers respond to requests of assistance made from members of the public.
"In Mayo SVP has ‘Vincent’ shops in Castlebar, Claremorris and Ballina. The sustainable approach to fashion is at the core of our retail activity. SVP is an approved housing body and local Conferences provide long-term homes across the County."
The provision of SVP Social Housing service is uniquely met by local volunteers. In Mayo SVP provide Social Housing Units in Foxford, Swinford, Castlebar, Ballinrobe, Charlestown and Ballaghaderreen.
In launching the campaign, SVP West Regional President Maureen Mitchel said: "It is with great enthusiasm and hope that the Society launches this campaign to recruit new volunteers.
"The strength of SVP lies in the fact that our volunteers are local based with local knowledge, that allows us to respond to immediate needs of vulnerable people in the community."
Ms Mitchell a long-standing visitation volunteer with SVP and noted that the characteristics that SVP is looking for in new members include kindness, compassion, discretion, respect and being non-judgemental.
Volunteer work with SVP involves working with and supporting the largest and oldest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland. Full training will be provided and the time commitment, while variable, is usually two to four hours weekly. The call-out for volunteers is to future-proof the valuable contribution that SVP makes to local communities in Mayo.
The recruitment campaign theme is ‘You know who you are - But we don’t’. To apply to become an SVP volunteer visit: www.svp.ie/volunteer or free call (01 ) 8848246
Other than visitation, some other volunteer positions required by SVP are in: (1 ) Technical support for Conferences: Providing professional data management and finance support for Conferences, to ensure that Conferences capture and record important data that improves their ability to assist people, while also adhering to relevant legislation eg GDPR. (2 ) Shops: The role as a volunteer in the network of almost 240 shops, is to carry out or assist in general shop duties and to ensure customers are always the priority through the delivery of exceptional customer service; (3 ) Social Housing: The key attributes of volunteers are experience and knowledge in the areas of Architecture, Engineering, Surveying, Health and Safety, Social Work and Social Care; (4 ) Family and Children Services: Volunteers can share their time and skills in one of the SVP youth clubs, community resource centres, day-care centres, or holiday homes.
