Large Group Shortlist 2024

Since 2019, Haven Hub has been running a wide variety of programmes to help support the mental health of Limerick. They have done more than 780 interventions with people, many of whom were in crisis. They also have supports for people not in crisis like walking groups, meditation, a youth group and a group focused on recovery from trauma. All of their courses are free so that cost isn’t a barrier to a person’s wellbeing. Because mental health doesn’t have office hours, neither do these volunteers, often taking calls at anti-social hours so that people in crisis know there are people who care about them. Some of the volunteers give their time and empathy a part of their own recovery from mental illness! Volunteers at Haven Hub know the importance of a warm, kind listening ear and are trained to be able to share skills and knowledge to promote healthy living.  

“The volunteers literally sit in a person’s pain with them in some of their lowest times and give them hope and validation. The volunteers are some of the most amazing people, many of whom have come out the other end of mental health difficulties and want to give back” writes their nominator. 

Novas are a registered charity who operate every day of the year to provide support to people without housing in Limerick. With a team of more than 50 volunteers, a hot meal and donated supplies are given to anyone in need. Volunteers collect food donations and food that would go uneaten from local restaurants and businesses and distribute it from their “food truck” hatch. There is always a line. Last year they served 20,000 meals and estimate since the organisation was founded that they’ve served 200,000.  

However, just as importantly, the volunteers are there for company and support for service users. They chat with the people there, bringing some joy and compassion to their day. “Experiencing homelessness is expensive and exhausting. Having to find places to go during the day, source drinks and food, go to appointments to ensure you don’t miss out on a bed if available, is time consuming and uses a lot of energy. The service predictability and the stability is entirely down to the volunteer’s dedication. Even on Christmas day, bank holidays, weekends, our team are ready to step in if there is a gap” writes their nominator. Some of the service users became unhoused due to past trauma, addiction, or mental illness so the nonjudgmental care of the volunteers is so important to affirm the dignity of the service users.  

There has been an RNLI presence on Valentia since 1939! They respond to emergencies on the water from people fishing, doing water sports, or who have had accidents, often in weather or water conditions that are a threat to themselves. Their callouts are quite often life or death and they are trained to administer first aid.  

For some in Valentia, being a part of the team is a family affair, with volunteers coming from different generations of a family. One volunteer remembers the beeper going off when he was 6 years old. His father, uncle and future wife would be on that crew! Women have been volunteering with this group for more than 55 years and make up more than 12% of the team. They have volunteers from as young as 23 to as old as 63, some with over 40 years of service! 

The RNLI volunteers are active in the community outside of times of crisis as well. The boat house is open daily for visitors, members participate in local events as fundraisers, and outreach programmes attend schools to teach children about water safety to prevent rescues.  

“They are ready at a moment’s notice to answer the shout, day or night 365 days of the year, responding without hesitation knowing that every second counts” their nominator writes.