Requests for help from SVP in Mayo town surge by 40%

Requests for help to Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) nationally have increased by 20 per cent each year for three years - but in Castlebar requests increased by 40% last year, requiring a weekly spend of thousands of euros.

Members of Castlebar SVP are delighted people in need think of them as a source of support; that is why they are here.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul is the largest voluntary organisation in the country, and has operated in Ireland since 1844 and is exceptional in that 90 per cent of donations are spent on those in need and only 10 per cent on administration.

One member of Castlebar SVP explained: “Nationally we receive nearly 2,000 calls for help every month, all from ordinary decent people – you never know when you are going to hit a blip in your life.

"Our spend on assistance in Castlebar increased by 40% last year, mainly on food and fruit, oil, coal, bills, education and training grants, occupational therapy (OT) and psychology assessments for children.

“We are all volunteers, not experts, but a lot of us have a professional background with a vast work and life experience to share for the benefit of anyone in need.

“We find that many clients fall between two stools whereby there is no government agency or organisation that can or will help them, but we can step in there because that is what we do a lot of the time, and we are good at it.

“Needs are changing. These days it is usually workers who are worse off. For example, research by UCC shows that the people most likely to go to a moneylender would be the higher paid worker, not people on a low income or social welfare, which is surprising.

“So now Castlebar SVP is really targeting what we call the ‘working poor’ and those whose circumstances have changed, leading to difficulties.

“Workers are struggling due to childcare costs, expensive heating and electric bills, rising mortgage interest rates, the price of petrol to get to work and trying to put your kids through college.

"Many of our members have been through it, so are happy to assist with needs when we can,” said the local SVP member, who added: “Research by the Living Wage Technical Group, of which SVP is a member, shows that the Living Wage – as opposed to the National Minimum Wage – has increased to €14.80 per hour for 2023-2024.

"The Minimum Wage hourly rate for 2024 is €12.70, a gap of €2.10 per hour. It is estimated that one-in-five workers are earning less than the Living Wage, which is defined as ‘the minimum rate required for a full-time worker (without dependents) to afford the goods and services that people have agreed are essential for enabling a life with dignity’.”

Castlebar SVP has two main conferences that help locals.

Holy Rosary members visit people requesting help with cost of living challenges predominantly (tel. 094 9023207 for assistance), and St Aloysius conference helps with anything to do with children's wellbeing and developmental needs, and can give support or grants to assist with the cost of education all the way up to and including third level (email: staloysius.castlebar@svp.ie).

The SVP has a large role in town, with 50 social housing units.

It is rewarding work and the volunteers do a great job providing a much needed service – they could do with some more volunteers to support their tenants.

Castlebar SVP also needs volunteers for hospital visitation at the Sacred Heart and to help with their shop, Vincents, on Linenhall Street (by Supervalu).

A local volunteer said: “I would highly recommend young people, when they leave school and go off to college, to think about joining the Society of St Vincent de Paul because they will have an instant family and friends – while also doing good.

"SVP suits young people because many are interested in economics, sociology, politics, spirituality and social justice issues, and the SVP ticks all those boxes. All one needs to join the SVP is to respect our Catholic ethos and to have a sense of humour.”

The work of The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) in Castlebar is funded by its Vincent’s shop, their clothes banks, people who kindly remember them in their will and donations.

All donations are much appreciated and people can donate anytime through their website www.svp.ie or by visiting their office at Pavilion Road, Castlebar.