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Requests for Direct Assistance Rise While Public Donations Drop |
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Requests for assistance from ALONE have increased significantly, to over 25 per month, an increase of 150%. We have also seen an increase in demand for our befriending service - there are now 35 isolated older persons on a waiting list for visits. We are dealing with almost 200 telephone calls per month.
In a press release CEO of ALONE, Seán Moynihan has highlighted the acute pressures on ALONE services. He has also called for a mandatory level of training for all professionals working with older persons in Ireland, as such a requirement exists for those working with children.
Seán said; "We are working towards ensuring that all involved with ALONE will have a sufficient level of training, and are focused on this goal to ensure we’re offering the best possible services. It is our intention to increase the number of volunteers we have, but we are currently faced with the challenge of trying to train new volunteers with limited resources.
We receive no Government funding for our day-to-day service provision, so are hugely dependent on the goodwill of the public who have been tremendously supportive during the lifetime of the charity. While donations from the public have dropped dramatically this year ALONE has been the beneficiary of very welcome donations from the Health Services Staff Credit Union, and more recently from the Bank of Ireland Life Corporate Responsibility Scheme, ‘The Give Together Initiative’.Of course, we remind the public that while donations are always welcome, we also urge them to spend some time checking on their older neighbours who may be isolated.” (To download the complete text of the press release click here Significant Increase in Demand for ALONE Services.pdf) |
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Our new-look Newsletter for August is available for download here Newsletter August 2010 or by following the Newsletter link on the main menu. We will use the Newsletter section to share extra material such as longer versions of articles and additional pictures etc. Along with a mix of news, information and pictures this month's
Newsletter includes an article by one of our 'Part-time Volunteers'
(volunteers who commit to a set number of days a week and work closely
with the staff team) and an interview with the two members of the ALONE
Housing Support Team. We will be publishing every two months from now on. PHOTOCALL!
This month sees the beginning of a new series - 'PHOTOCALL!' - in which we invite you to submit photo's on a variety of themes. To mark the International Day of Older Persons on October 1st, this month's theme is 'Positive Ageing'. The best pic's will be displayed on this site and on our Facebook page. To submit pictures that depict ageing as a time of opportunity and personal development send them by post to Newsletter, 1 Willie Bermingham Place, Kilmainham Lane, Dublin 8 or email to
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Tom Dunne Gets a Handle on The Issues |
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We are delighted to welcome Tom Dunne, the popular Newstalk broadcaster as our new ambassador to help raise awareness of our work. Tom will work closely with ALONE to raise our profile and to help ensure that any older person in need of our services is aware of how we can help.
Of course Tom is well known through Newstalk Radio where he presents “The Tom Dunne Show” on weekday mornings between 9:00am and midday. And he is no stranger to the limelight as lead singer with Something Happens, who had a string of hits in the 80s and 90s, and recently played support to Horslips at The O2.
“I am honoured to be chosen as the ALONE ambassador,” he said. “I want my listeners and the public to understand the important work the volunteers and staff of ALONE do for many vulnerable older people in Dublin. I hope that I can help ALONE spread their word and generate increased support for the organisation which has been a fixture in Dublin, and beyond, for over 20 years.
I remember seeing the work of Willie Bermingham before his untimely death, and found him a very inspiring individual, so I’m happy to do whatever I can to help the charity. In fact Willie Bermingham and I were both taught at St Michael’s School in Inchicore. I’m looking forward to meeting people involved in the organisation at some of the events which they have planned over the coming year.”
We are delighted to welcome Tom on board our team of already dedicated staff and volunteers! |
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