Action at the doorstep: Why I volunteer with SVP

Nessan Vaughan, SVP volunteer and Chair of SVP’s Social Justice Committee, on why your time matters

I have had a long term interest in justice, human rights, equality and poverty.

I read extensively and reflected on these issues but there was something missing: action!

I searched for some organisation to join where I could give some practical effect to my interests.

Fortunately for me I found it in the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) and, in particular, by joining my local visitation Conference.

From the first evening I was made to feel welcome and equal.

There was no sense of hierarchy, only a clear purpose: to listen carefully, to respond with dignity and to offer the kind of help that makes tomorrow easier than yesterday.

Our conference meets weekly.

We review requests for assistance, agree the best approach and, most importantly, we visit people in their homes in pairs.

Those visits are the heart of SVP.

At a kitchen table you hear the real story behind the sleepless nights, the boiler that failed, the cut in hours at work or the school trip a child is too embarrassed to mention.

These encounters can be transformative. A modest payment towards an energy bill can turn anxiety into relief.

An education grant can keep a student on track to complete their college course.

Volunteers experience change too.

You leave a visit humbled by the people we encounter who so often display such fortitude and selflessness in looking after dependent family members.

I have been inspired by colleagues who have given decades to this work and who carry their experience lightly.

They embody the core principles of confidentiality, practicality, and kindness by respecting the privacy of those they visit, providing direct assistance based on individual needs, and offering compassionate, non-judgmental support to help people overcome poverty and social exclusion.

There are no formal qualifications required to volunteer.

If you can offer kindness, compassion and empathy, there is a place for you.

The training is straightforward, support is strong, and you are never sent on a visit alone.

While the need is most visible at Christmas, help is required all year-round.

The truth is that a couple of hours a week can make a real difference.

I often think of what one of the early Fathers of the Church, St John Chrysostom, said, “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice”.

If you have ever felt that same itch to move from reading to doing, consider joining SVP.

You may find, as I have, that you gain far more than you give.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) is seeking volunteers in Dublin to support its home-visitation work.

If you can give a little time, call 087 066 5739 or fill in your details at svp.ie/volunteer and SVP will be in touch to discuss how you can make a real difference in your community.