Organised voluntary activity contributes to the up building of society and to society sustaining itself. It involves the concept of community and is flavoured by self-giving and self-interest. As a Sister of Mercy I am privileged to be a member of some voluntary organisations, two of which I will outline here.
I am a member of Kerry Mental Health Association for many years. Its Board of Directors, nine Local Branches and a dynamic Development Manager – all based in Co Kerry – respond to the various needs identified in the psychiatric services. Kerry MHA has two key objectives: the promotion of positive mental health and the support of people with mental health disability, their families and carers by means of visitation of hospitals, psychiatric group homes and day-centres, providing and funding outings and meals for clients to tourist/seaside resorts and historical sites. As well as these activities various therapies are funded: art classes, music sessions, and gardening, to name but a few.
During winter months clients are also transported to various concerts and parties organised by the Branches. A KMHA website is also regularly updated and a Kerry Newsletter is produced bi-annually. Talks are also given on mental health topics to pupils at post-primary schools and to adult groups on request. Young people are also catered for by the annual Public Speaking Project for Post-Primary Schools at county, regional and national levels and by the “Design a Cover Project” in art classes. In autumn the Young Mental Health Association of Ireland hosted its first conference.
An ongoing support/activity undertaken by the Association is the provision of social housing for clients ready to move into the community. In June 2009 a 15 Unit supported housing facility has been completed in Killarney and this unit as well as many other group homes and clinics will see the closure of the old large St. Finan’s Hospital. This brings to seven the number of social houses provided for clients in Kerry. Transport for clients is also funded by KMHA and people-carriers have been purchased by Branches for group homes and day centres. They are also used for transporting client/workers to Ross Products Sheltered Workshop where various types of boxes and packaging are manufactured. One client from a group home and a carer are also sponsored for the annual Kerry Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Many rehabilitation and occupational activities are funded by the Association. Fundraising and visitation of day care centres, group homes and hospitals are ongoing for the Association and its Branches in Tralee, Killarney, Caherciveen, Castleisland, Kenmare, Rathmore, Killorglin, West Kerry and Listowel.
Kerry Life Education Ltd.
This unit incorporates The Harold Project for Primary Schools covering healthy choices, health, nutrition, exercise, peer dynamics (bullying), and self-esteem for all classes and alcohol and substance misuse in senior classes. This is a community mobilised project. It was set up as a joint venture between Killarney town Council Substance Misuse Committee and South Kerry Development Partnership. Initially, we started in 2001 with two local Councillors and two other members who represented other organisations in each of the two partnerships. Independent research engaged in by both parties confirmed that a pattern of rising levels of alcohol and substance misuse among young people was of serious concern. We then explored what was on offer regarding programmes on education and prevention. One such programme that emerged was in Lancashire and known as the Life Education System, which was of Australian Origin (1979). The programme takes place in a specially equipped Mobile Learning Classroom that travels to the heart of all Kerry parishes and schools as well as those on the borders of Cork and Limerick.
In order to evaluate the system Killarney Town Council and Kerry Mental Health Association commissioned a 4 week Life Education Trial in Killarney Primary Schools in June 2001. The pupils and teachers of nine Killarney schools visited the Mobile Learning Classroom. It was a resounding success. Killarney Town Council and SKDP acted immediately and set up a specific charity in February 2002 to bring the project to Kerry. Since then we have worked tirelessly and constantly fundraised to make the project a reality. We have received huge support from many groups and organisations that share our vision and continue to help us. Mention must be made of: the Bishop of Kerry, the Church, the Solidarity Funding of the Sisters of Mercy, Southern Province, Credit Unions, the Gardai, Primary Schools, Kerry County Council, Killarney and Tralee Town Councils, Development and Voluntary Organisations, parents and families. As a Board, we are deeply indebted to all the above named who enabled us to purchase our 3 Mobile Classrooms and we continually fund raise to sustain, update and expand our service.
Our first school visit was in February 2004 when our first Mobile Classroom and qualified Tutor launched the project in South and East Kerry. The second Mobile Classroom and qualified Tutor began visiting schools in North and West Kerry in 2007. The units visit all primary schools once each year. The third mobile Unit is on standby as a back-up and support for our existing services.
Our 2009 Five Year Strategy pledges to deliver a follow on service to Post Primary Schools. Preliminary programmes are now at an advanced stage of development. Strengthening and increasing our existing Parent and Family Support work in response to many requests received is already being undertaken. Since 2004, we have hosted a very successful annual National Conference in Killarney, having as its launching pad substance and alcohol misuse.
On a dreary winter’s evening when basking in the warmth of indoors, it can be very tempting to forego a scheduled meeting or voluntary visitation of the most vulnerable in our society. Yet, once a little effort is made to brave the great outdoors and make a small contribution to social needs, the feeling of satisfaction afterwards more than compensates: “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.”
Kathleen Liston rsm
Southern Province
