Safe Home Ireland - Supporting Irish Emigrants
Safe Home Ireland – Supporting Irish Emigrants
ABOUT US
Safe Home Ireland provides a free, confidential advice and information service to anyone (regardless of age or circumstances), who may be considering returning /moving to Ireland.
We assist qualifying older Irish born emigrants to explore and secure long-term social housing options back in their native areas. We provide a home visiting/ outreach and advocacy service, to our housing applicants throughout the UK and to people who have recently returned home to Ireland.
We work in conjunction with Irish welfare/advice agencies at home and abroad, to ensure, that together, we are offering the best service that we can, for those who are most in need.
For more information about Safe Home Ireland and the work that we do, please visit our website at www.safehomeireland.com
Watch this video to hear Ann Roddy outline Safe Home Ireland's work and explain why it is important: Safe Home Ireland intro
100KM IN OCTOBER WITH INSPIRE FITNESS
The ladies at Inspire Fitness are doing 100K in October for Safe Home Ireland. Please help us raise funds by sponsoring us, or why not join in!
100k in October works out at 3.2k per day, which is very do-able!
Put on your Fitbit (or keep your smartphone on you), first thing in the morning and track your Steps/Km's as you go about your day - you can cycle, walk, do gardening, do a workout and or even clean the house! Anything to get you moving up to that 100K!
SUPPORT OUR APPEAL
Your support will help Safe Home Ireland to continue connecting with and providing a vital range of services to, Irish emigrants abroad, of all ages and circumstances, and those who have recently returned home.
Donations received will primarily go towards a ‘comfort fund’ which is specifically targeted at the most vulnerable returnees who come home in crisis and need emergency support. Funds raised will also go towards costs involved with home visits, information provision and outreach support services.
OUR WORK IN ACTION
“I don’t go out at all at night”
“I am living in an area of London that is very unsafe and I feel afraid a lot of the time, especially when I have to go out during the day, walking on my own to the shops. I have been mugged in the past and because my mobility is not good, I felt this makes me even more of a target so I don’t go out at all at night. I have not been well over the past few months and I have found it very difficult getting to the surgery and going to collect my medication”.
John, a 79 year old widower, originally from the west of Ireland, lived in London for over 50 years. The borough where he lived was once a ‘stronghold’ of the Irish community, however over the years, many Irish people have moved on to other areas. John found himself isolated and vulnerable in London, as close friends had either passed away, moved out of the area or returned home to Ireland.
In early 2019, John applied for housing via Safe Home Ireland and a Safe Home outreach worker visited him in his home in London in April. In July, he moved back home to Co. Mayo. He now lives in his own little bungalow, in a housing scheme for older people, not far from the village where he was born and reared. He is happy to have his own place and independence but takes comfort from the safety of his quiet surroundings and having extended family close by for support.
~ John – Safe Home Ireland returnee
“I feel like I’ve won the lotto”
Mike, a 69 year old divorced man lived alone in a one-bedroom Housing Association property in Manchester. He lived there since 2006 and prior to that, during his working years, he spent a lot of time moving throughout the UK, from bed-sit to bed-sit, following where the jobs brought him. Mike always worked in construction until he had to retire on health grounds. He developed arthritis in both knees, which he says was probably due to working outdoors on building sites down the years.
Mike contacted Safe Home Ireland initially in 2014 when he first contemplated moving back to Ireland to retire and to spend quality time with his daughter and first grandchild. However, as he went through the application process, he got ‘cold feet’ and felt overwhelmed about all that would be involved, so he decided not to proceed any further at that time. In late 2016, he re-activated his application, assuring us and himself that he had weighed up all of the pros and cons and that this time, he was, “in it for the long haul”.
In early June 2020, Mike was offered a two-bedroom Housing Association flat back in his native city. Although still nervous about moving, particularly in the throes of a Pandemic, true to his word, Mike moved back home at the beginning of August. Once he had completed his 14-day isolation period, a Safe Home Outreach Officer met with him at his new home, to assist with paperwork for relevant benefits and entitlements and with transferring his pension from the UK. Mike is very house proud and already had the place looking lovely and homely. He told our Outreach Officer, “every time I look around this flat, I feel like I’ve won the lotto”.
~Mike – Safe Home Ireland Return
For updates and to keep connected, please follow us on:
Facebook: @safehomeprogramme
Twitter: @safehomeireland
Instagram: safehomeireland
Website: www.safehomeireland.com
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