How Mayo charity is helping children and students in Mayo

The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) in Castlebar can help children with the cost of occupational therapy (OT) and psychology assessments, and can assist students of all ages with the cost of education or training.

“It takes a village to raise a child," and when it comes to putting oneself or one’s children through school or college it can be a challenge to do so without help.

SVP volunteers, some of whom are medical professionals, teachers and parents, know from experience the critical need for paediatric OT to facilitate children’s development, and for psychology assessments to qualify for a SNA at school.

A teacher may have five children in her class in need of an assessment but only have funding for two: which two does she pick…?

SVP values education as a way out of hardship and often provides education and training bursaries.

Third-level is costly, but worth the investment. For example, a graduate with an arts degree will begin work earning 25% more than a school leaver, and graduates are likely to be more employable with 82% being employed nine months after finishing college.

However, the SVP acknowledges that even with government grants, costs can be prohibitive, with a year at college estimated in recent years to be €14,000 per academic year – and increasing.

“We find that two parents on a good income – and whose child does not qualify for a SUSI grant – can also struggle to meet these costs, despite having worked hard and saved over the years. And if they have more than one child in college, it can be very stressful," said a local SVP member.

Further education and training for lone parents is more complex, requiring a broader range of supports particular to their situation, and student nurses, who have to travel to their placements or rent nearby while maintaining their primary residence, have extra costs.

Add to all these expenses the cost-of-living crisis, the rising cost for parents to travel to work, heating, electric, multiple increases in mortgage repayments and unexpected bills. It all mounts up.

These are areas the SVP can help with. All assistance is given on an individual basis according to need and government grants having been applied for.

Asked how the SVP can fund such requests for assistance, one volunteer explained: “Our funds come from three main sources: donations from the people of Castlebar; profits from Vincent’s, our charity shop on New Antrim St, and its clothes banks around town; and bequests. So please remember us during ou annual appeal later in the year.”

To confidentially enquire about SVP assistance for children or education bursaries, email: staloysius.castlebar@svp.ie and visit www.svp.ie.