Once again we have had a very successful and productive year. We have consolidated our six main activities while at the same time recruited some very excellent volunteers.
Care and Repair Program
In 2013 we carried out 210 jobs, an increase from 2012 figures. The demand for hand and stair rails has increased so our hope is that we have contributed greatly to help prevent people falling, slipping or breaking bones and having to spend time in hospital.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Halco Hire who have been lending us equipment used with our Care & Repair team free of charge for the past 3 years.
Our list of trusted traders has also increased; these are people we recommend for larger jobs that we cannot undertake.
Failte Isteach
We have continued this excellent service teaching conversation English to foreign immigrants two evenings a week. We now have some text teaching aids in the form of books especially designed for Failte Isteach. There three books in the series, Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced.
Computer Classes
The classes are on a 1:1 basis and have continued to be extremely successful. The student sets the pace and agenda, subjects include using email, Skype, facebook and surfing the Internet these are the most popular requests. We currently have 11 tutors and have so far trained in excess of 100 students, and still have a waiting list. The classes run 3 afternoons a week during school term. During 2013 we were nominated as one of the top four in the Google Silver Surfer Awards. We didn’t win but had a great day out at the Google headquarters in Dublin.
National Senior Help Line
We have 24 volunteers who man the help line 2 afternoons per week, we take average of 30 calls each week. Due to the funding for this service being withdrawn the service will be moved entirely to Dublin in 2014.
Good Morning Drogheda
Our client list is now up from 48 in 2012 to 70 in 2013, that’s 70 people who get a friendly morning call from us 5 days a week. Our aim is to increase this to over 100 in 2014.
Our office here in the Haymarket is still kept very busy helping people with all manner of queries and problems. Local Property Tax and the Household Charge were very popular concerns as well as the Saorview TV switchover. We have also applied to SEAI for the home insulation grant for over 40 people.
Other highlights and visitors during 2013:
• Nominated for Chamber of Commerce “Age Friendly Business” Awards
• Supplied most of the guests to the very successful “Tea Dance” held in the Westcourt Hotel and organised by the Lions Club
• Took part in a video presentation to celebrate Nation Volunteering Week.
• We sent over 400 Babushka Boxes to the old people’s homes in Belarus.
• Dave and Gerry returned from the Charity Cycle across America.Nomi
Fund Raising
2 Flag Days
Coffee Morning
Easter Raffle
Volunteers Christmas Raffle
Trans American Cycle
Local Cycle
Bag Packing, Bucket Collection and Choir in Scotch hall.
Finances
Our Financial Report is available on request where deemed necessary.
On a much sadder note we lost our Founder Member and Chairperson, Mr Peader Reynolds.
We cannot possible run all these activities without the help and commitment of our 75 volunteers, so to all our Volunteers we would like to say a heartfelt thank you.
Oliver O’Connor – July 31st 2014