The Society of St Vincent de Paul in Northern Ireland has opened a bridal wear shop in Portadown, where brides-to-be and mothers-of-the-brides can shop for the outfit of their dreams in total comfort.
Accessible by appointment only, Vincent’s Wedding Suite carries a stock of more than 50 new and pre-loved white [...]
“In the coming weeks, we expect to see an increased demand for our support as families find themselves in financial stress and hardship,” said Kieran Stafford, National President, SVP.
The organisation appeals for more government funding as the gap between the demand for services and the funding it receives from government increases.
“The electorate want this problem solved, believes it can be solved but does not believe any party has yet put forward the solutions that are needed to solve it. It is up to the newly elected councillors to show what can be done” – Pat Dennigan, Focus Ireland.
Focus Ireland stressed that much good work is being done but the crisis will continue without a substantial increase in social housing provision as a matter of urgency and a move away from providing yet more emergency accommodation and hubs.
SVP is still receiving an average of 1000 calls for help every day from worried families in the run-up to Christmas and is particularly concerned about some people in private rented accommodation.
Barnardos provided practical and emotional supports to children and parents in its 40 centres, in families’ own homes, through the school environment and within their communities.
The survey showed that 11 per cent of primary school parents and 21 per cent of secondary school parents are forced to borrow money to cover school costs. Other parents either delay payment of other bills or take money out of savings.
With the numbers becoming homeless increasing every month, providers are having to run to stand still – Focus Ireland.
The “hidden homeless” are people who often don’t have the option to declare themselves officially homeless and to put themselves on the local authority emergency accommodation list.
Research shows that two thirds of the higher costs for older children go towards food, clothing, personal care and social inclusion costs. Some €9.50 of the extra costs goes on second level education expenses.
The new figures show that the number of homeless increased by 6% in one month alone from 8,587 in December 2017 to 9,104 in January 2018.
“Based on the experience of our 11,000 members, we are willing to engage with Government to relate how future policies should be poverty proofed and work for those families that are struggling,” - Kieran Stafford, SVP National President.
Children are living in households which are going 24 hours without a substantial meal, or being cold because parents are unable to afford to heat the home.
"The health, well-being and development of too many children is being compromised because of inefficiencies and resource gaps in our public health system" - Barnodos
Parents are more concerned about the cost of sending their children to school than the possibility that they might be bullied.
Having a long-term approach to investing in services will prove more beneficial in building a more sustainable equitable society for our children.
SVP members regularly visit families who put off paying bills, fall into debt, or sacrifice spending on food and other essentials to cover school costs such as events, exams, curricular-based sport and music, trips and equipment.
“It is clear to us the economic recovery isn’t being felt by all as we are supporting parents who are under huge strain to meet the needs of their children because of the absence of appropriate quality public services” – Fergus Finlay, Barnardos.
Promising start during Govt's first 100 days in office must now be followed with concrete action, children’s charity warns.
One in ten parents get into debt to send their children to school. Some even borrow from money lenders.
Failure to invest in prevention and early intervention is a failure to protect vulnerable children, Barnardos warns.
In addition to children who are homeless, thousands more are living in overcrowded, unsuitable and unsafe sub-standard accommodation.
“It is important for every candidate seeking our vote in the coming weeks to understand the appalling extent of child poverty rates in Ireland" - Barnardos.
“It seems to be almost explicit Government policy that people are expected to live below that poverty line and we see the consequences” - Mike Allen of Focus Ireland.
Ministerfor Children, Dr James Reilly, to give a presentation to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva today.
New figures show that the children's charity helped 340 more children in 2015 than in 2014.
Pockets of positive investment in Budget a sign the Government is repairing some of the damage austerity has had on children: Barnardos.
Rise Up research uncovers endemic societal inequalities that limit children from achieving their potential according to Barnardos.
“The Taoiseach recently said the elimination of child poverty was a moral imperative for any government. Yet child poverty rates in Ireland are a national scandal."
