25th March 2020
As a union, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has a proud legacy of standing up for the most vulnerable in society. Time and time again, our members share their experiences of supporting those most in need in our most disadvantaged schools. With our schools closed, we felt we needed to do more.
This morning, the INTO’s Central Executive Committee has decided to make two donations of €10,000 a piece to support the incredible work of both the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Barnardos, who are doing so much to support children at this time.
John Boyle, INTO General Secretary said:
Our members have expressed their deep concern for our most vulnerable pupils, especially those who are homeless or come from families in our most disadvantaged areas. We felt we had to do more, and I’m delighted we could support the trojan work of both The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Barnardos, who are doing such important work during this crisis.
Andy Heffernan, National Secretary at The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul said:
Our sincerest thanks to our friends at INTO for this very generous donation. During these very difficult times the Society of St Vincent de Paul is continuing to support the most disadvantaged in our society who may be struggling with the costs of food, fuel and bills. We are also experiencing an increase in demand from people who have been laid off work and are now facing a tough situation to provide for their families. This is against a backdrop of reduced income due to the cancellation of all our church gate collections and the temporary closure of our shops. This generous support from INTO is therefore all the more important and appreciated. Thanks to these kind donors, SVP will be there to support people in communities across Ireland throughout this crisis.
Mary Gamble, Director of Fundraising at Barnardos said:
We would like to send a heartfelt thanks to each and every member of the INTO for this generous donation. We are acutely aware of the negative impact the COVID -19 virus will have on the lives of the vulnerable children we support – children whose only safe space was their classroom are now confined to stressful home environments with no end in sight. Thanks to your support Barnardos can continue to provide vital support and care to vulnerable children throughout this crisis.