Search Results for 'Poverty'

I was on a whirlwind tour of various places in the west of Ireland recently, attending Gorta Self Help Africa events, especially the Gorta Self Help Africa Ball where close on €30,000 was raised for the charity’s work in 10 countries in Africa. We are so thankful for this support, and indeed from all the parishes in Galway and the west of Ireland that have organised fundraising events during the year.

Last Friday night was the occasion for COPE Galway’s annual Sleep Out where 30 of the city’s business and community leaders spent 12 hours sleeping on the streets in a venture that has raised €110,000 to date for homelessness services.

Childhood is for a limited period of time and cannot be reclaimed if a child has a sub-optimal experience due to inadequate housing, claimed Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, when he delivered the keynote speech at the launch of COPE Galway’s 2016 Annual Report.

Children are not being protected by Government housing policy with various reports showing thousands of families forced to sleep in cars, in friends’ sitting rooms, or in cramped B&B rooms.

In a month in which we in Galway thrive on festivals, tourists, and summer sunshine, we realise just how blessed we are to live in one of Europe's most engaging cities. As the most influential arts festival winds down this weekend, and the iconic Galway Races begin, we can feel a little smug that we live in a such a special place. Every day, every month, every year it seems Galway just marches forward - more visitors, more recognition, and more festivals.

Family Hubs will not solve the housing crisis, but instead deepen and 'normalise' homelessness. Instead, the Government must abandon its reliance on the 'the market' and intervene directly in order to solve this crisis.

Some 15 registered derelict sites in Galway should be considered for upgrade, or for alternative use in light of the city’s “unprecedented housing crisis”, according to a Galway based senator.

Dragons’ Den businessman Barry O’Sullivan is selling a dream home on the Aran Islands and donating the proceeds to two homeless charities — Focus Ireland and COPE Galway — to help families escape homelessness.

The Skeff Late Bar & Kitchen presented a cheque for €600 to Galway Simon Community after wrapping up their Soup for Simon campaign. During October the proceeds from soup sales for one week at The Skeff were donated to the local charity.