Life

Anne Hailes: Saint Vincent de Paul still offering essential support to those most in need

Anne Hailes

Anne Hailes

Anne is Northern Ireland's first lady of journalism, having worked in the media since she joined Ulster Television when she was 17. Her columns have been entertaining and informing Irish News readers for 25 years.

Brian Wilson, Bernie Brady, regional president Mary Waide and shop manager Mary Dempster at SVP Cushendall Road, Ballymena.
Brian Wilson, Bernie Brady, regional president Mary Waide and shop manager Mary Dempster at SVP Cushendall Road, Ballymena. Brian Wilson, Bernie Brady, regional president Mary Waide and shop manager Mary Dempster at SVP Cushendall Road, Ballymena.

I'M SURE Frédéric Ozanam would be surprised and delighted to know that the society he set up in Paris in almost 190 years ago has grown into a worldwide phenomenon.

He knew sadness, being one of 14 children and one of only three to reach adulthood. He worked hard as a student, studying law, but it was as a journalist he uncovered the appalling conditions in the slum areas of the city – so, with fellow student friends, he set up the Conference of Charity to work with the poor.

Ozanam selected the French priest Saint Vincent de Paul as patron because he too knew hardship and cared in practical ways for those who needed help during their time of deprivation and fear.

Now, the charity Saint Vincent de Paul is the biggest in the world. Here in Northern Ireland members are coping with the limitations coronavirus has brought to their work amongst the population.

Mary Waide is regional president in the north. She explained how their service has changed over the last few months.

"Visiting families was a vital part of our work, but now we are unable to do this, so we use helplines, telephone contact with those who have urgent requests: perhaps for food or to sort out a domestic problem, practical help and advice."

She talks of teachers bringing pancakes and toast into class just to give children some form of nutrition and stave off the hunger pains.

"Local shops help us make up food hampers to deliver to families in need and, thanks to generous public donations, we can pay for these. We also provide for families in other ways including by giving them gift vouchers so they can shop for themselves or with our help."

One of the places many of us go to is the Saint Vincent de Paul shop, either to donate or to look along the rails for suitable clothes. There is no longer a stigma about visiting a charity shop – in fact, it's often a place to discover high fashion items.

At term time, parents find uniforms passed on when they no longer fit a child. These are sold for a reasonable price, as the uniform grant is far from adequate.

"We will never let a child go without a school uniform," is Mary's promise. Mary has six children and eight grandchildren, is originally from Dungannon and now lives in Ballymena. She has been a teacher all her life and can see where the need arises through dealing with children.

:: Crisis in the community

"I believe that child poverty was at a crisis point even before Covid, when around 19 per cent of children lived below the poverty line. However, this has gone up since March. Living on benefits is difficult enough, it keeps the family ticking over – but if something goes wrong, something that arises which is not factored into the budget, there is no money to cover it.

"For instance, a child needs a pair of shoes that fit or an unexpected bill arrives, even the best manager of money doesn't know where to turn. The low waged are also in this position and, when furlough ends, there will be unemployed people who have worked all their lives and will find it very difficult. Families will go hungry.

"People have said to me 'surely to goodness there are not people living in poverty in this day and age.' If only they knew."

It's all right for the government to spout off that there are ways and means of getting benefits, but as Mary points out, universal credit takes at least five weeks to process. The need is much too urgent to wait.

Needs vary, but the charity is there with a wide variety of assistance. Perhaps people have to move from furnished accommodation to unfurnished, in which case they can find furniture in the shops as well as items to make a house a home.

Mary is also a member o the National Safeguarding Committee. I asked her what safeguarding means.

"Basically, being alert to all situations. For instance, abuse – mental, physical and emotional – is on the increase behind closed doors. We were the privileged ones to be invited into homes, especially to meet with women suffering abuse, but we can no longer do this. So it's a case of being vigilant, listening to callers and working with Women's Aid. In this way, we become involved and can offer help.

"We do what we can – but it's never enough."

:: Christian charity for everyone

The organisation often sees women and men turning to loan sharks or paramilitaries in their despair.

"It's quite common and you can't blame them," Mary added.

"But we are here, we are a Christian charity helping people of all backgrounds and cultures.

"We are totally non-judgemental and everything is in the strictest confidence, so if we see a big television or mobile phones – which some people condemn and wonder why there are these 'luxury items' when there is no money to buy food – we realise that things can happen suddenly, one minute a lovely home, the next the breadwinner has fallen into circumstances they can do nothing about and there's no income anymore."

Such is the extreme trauma some families are going through there just isn't a word to describe today's traumatic crisis. Local MLAs and councillors are supportive, but what about the top people n Stormont?

Mary gives a smile: "We are working on this," she confirms.

"When I joined the society, I experienced the warmth of spirit of the Vincentian Family and, as Regional President, I will be placing a focus on priorities around child care, education, membership support, our shops and social justice.

"I believe this is what God wants of me and spirituality must be at the heart of decisions made by SVP across the region. I will endeavour to make sure everyone works together in order to support one another."