The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the largest, voluntary, charitable organisation in Ireland. Its membership of over 9,500 Volunteers throughout the country offer friendship and support to individuals and families living with poverty to achieve self sufficieny while working for social justice.
To enable people and communities in need to overcome their poverty and take their place in society on an equal footing with those in the mainstream.
The SVP is a lay Christian Organisation but membership is open to anyone who respects the ethos and rule of the Society. You do not need to be a Christian in order to join the SVP.
In order to become a member of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul you need to complete our membership application process and attend Induction Training for New Volunteers. The application process includes:
Once you are an established member of a Conference you will be able to fill out a form to get an SVP ID card which you can carry with you on visits.
Members give of their spare time, varying from 1 hour upwards per week.
Anybody who has some spare time, is committed to fighting injustice and can empathise. One will also need to get Garda Vetting before they become a member.
To translate into action the Christian challenge to help people in need and change the society we live in.
To be active in the community in areas neglected and to offer support and companionship to the lonely.
A genuine concern for those in our community who are in need, a willingness to do something about it whilst preserving total confidentially.
The sort of activities you become involved in will depend entirely upon your own personal interests. The Conference President will try to allocate you with the type of visit to which you feel you are best suited.
Yes, comprehensive Induction Training is available for new Volunteers to help prepare you for the work you will be doing. In addition to this we provide Officer Training for special roles within the organisation. There are other opportunities to attend workshops and information sessions based on the work we do in order to keep yourself up to date.
The Conference is your main support. As a group you will discuss any problems you have encountered on your visits, the experience of others will help point to the best way forward.
As with many voluntary jobs, members often say they get more out of the Society than they put in through the friends they make, and the relationships they build up with the people they visit. There is also satisfaction from knowing you are trying to make a difference in a practical way.
Visiting people in their homes, once requested, and offering support and friendship.
Yes, once they request assistance.
No, but it can help relieve some pressures and give people some space to resolve their problems, while planning a route out of poverty through education, training, esteem-building or employment.
Illness, loneliness, desertion, alcoholism, low self-esteem and violence.
Clothing, fuel, food, beds, furniture, holidays, education assistance and employment opportunities.
Usually self referral, people approach the SVP when in need.
The society operates a three-pronged strategy of Support and Friendship; Promoting Self-Sufficiency and Working for Social Justice through a diverse range of activities.
You will never know unless you try. In the Society of St. Vincent de Paul too few people are trying to do too much. We need your help to help people in need. If you have some spare time to give to people in need contact us.
This is a form of membership where you make an annual contribution to the Society.