The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) was founded in Ireland in 1844 and is the largest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland. Our focus is on practical approaches to dealing with poverty, alleviating its effects on individuals and families through working primarily in person-to-person contact by a unique system of family visitation and seeking to achieve social justice and equality of opportunity for all citizens. The Society has 13,079 members and volunteers working in more than 1,201 Conferences across 8 regions.
What we do
In 2019, SVP received 160,766 requests for help. In response to these, we provide practical support to people in need through a wide range of services.
Visitation
Home Visitation is the core activity of the Society in which the majority of our members partake. Our volunteers spend time talking with those who request our help to ensure we fully understand the issues they are facing which enables us to provide the best support possible. Our support can be either non-financial or financial in order to alleviate the impact of poverty and social exclusion. In 2019, we provided €33.3 million to individuals and families. (2018: €32.4 million).
Service Provision
In addition to our Visitation work, we provide a wide range of services, some government funded for vulnerable people. Such services include 6 resource centres, 10 emergency homeless services (300 beds in hostels), social housing (c. 862 Units), 5 holiday homes, prison visitor centres, children / young adult services and day-care centres. In 2019 we expended €18.9 million (2018: €18.9 million) on such services accounting for 22% of the Society’s total expenditure.
Community Charity Shops
The Society has 230 community charity shops. Our Vincent’s shops are a very important aspect of service provided by SVP. Not only do they provide people with new and lightly worn items at affordable prices, they also provide an income source for the Society, which is reinvested directly back into the community.
Income
In 2019, total income for the Society was €83.3 million (2018: €80.6 million).
We couldn't carry out our vital work without the generosity of our many donors. SVP is committed to complying with the standards outlined in the Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public and formally adopted the statement in 2013. The Society has a range of income streams.
Income
(Euro) |
2019
€‘000 |
2018
€‘000 |
| Church Collections |
9,434 |
9,213 |
| Legacies |
8,021 |
8,456 |
| Donations |
14,909 |
14,278 |
| Members Contributions |
150 |
151 |
| Fundraising & Other Income |
3,545 |
3,580 |
| Government Grants Visitation |
1,822 |
1,753 |
| Services: Funders and Fees |
14,007 |
13,508 |
| Charity Shops (before costs) |
31,432 |
29,614 |
| Total |
83,320 |
80,553 |
Expenditure
In 2019, total expenditure was €84.5 million (2018: €81.8 million).
Visitation work includes non-financial support, advisory assistance, befriending and supporting access to social services. In addition assistance to individuals can be direct financial support, foods, fuel and support with utility bills.
Our Services including social housing, homeless services, resource centres, holiday homes etc., accounting for 22% of the Society’s total expenditure.
Charity shops account for 28% of the Society’s total expenditure with management, support, governance and administration representing 10% of the Society’s total expenditure in 2019.
More Financial Information
Income and expenditure reports for 2019 together with the balance sheet can be accessed below.
See Financial Summary 2019
Our consolidated Financial Accounts, which are independently audited, are available below.
SVP Financial Reports
SVP Internal Audit provides independent assurance to the Society through risk based auditing.
For here for more information on our Internal Audit Function.
Read full Internal Audit Charter