NOVAS seeking volunteers to join its Street Outreach service in Limerick

NOVAS seeking volunteers for their Limerick operations to help them to help the most vulnerable.

NOVAS are looking for new volunteers for a flexible volunteering opportunity

For 15 years, NOVAS have been providing street outreach support to people experiencing marginalisation in Limerick city. This service, which is operated entirely by volunteers, meets the basic needs of people on the streets of Limerick 365 days a year, offering a warm meal and drink, advice and support and a kind word. 

NOVAS are currently recruiting for new volunteers to join the service to help them to help the most vulnerable. Una Burns, Head of Policy and Communications with NOVAS describes the services ‘as providing the most basic interventions for people who need it most, in terms of sustenance, human connection and advice and signposting to other services in the city. Every night of the week, two of our volunteer team ensure this vital, frontline service is offered on the streets of Limerick.’ She goes onto the explain the process, how ‘one volunteer drives our street outreach van to The Greenhills Hotel to collect freshly prepared meals every evening. Usually another volunteer collects freshly baked goods from Hook & Ladder and Nom Donuts and the two volunteers meet at the junction of William Street and Lower Gerald Griffin Street at 7pm to deliver the service to our clients who rely on it. Considering the continued increase in people presenting as homeless and pushed into poverty, the service is more important than ever.’ 

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NOVAS seeking volunteers to join their experienced and committed team. It is a flexible volunteering opportunity, as volunteers do not have to commit to a specific night of the week and can volunteer as often or infrequently as they like. Burns explains ‘we have volunteers that volunteer every week and others who fill in occasionally when we are stuck. There is no minimum commitment and it is a flexible volunteering opportunity for people with other commitments.’. 

Burns thanked all the existing and previous volunteers who have ensured the service has been operational for such a long time, ‘even during the most difficult period of the pandemic. We simply couldn’t operate it without the generosity, commitment and goodwill of our volunteers’.  

Novas set up its first service in Ireland in 2002. Funded by the HSE and the Department of Housing it provides services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Working with families, children and single adults who are disadvantaged or socially excluded, it offers client centred services and promotes social justice. It provides services in Limerick, Dublin, Kerry, Tipperary, Clare and Cork. 

If you are interested in joining NOVAS Street Outreach volunteer team, a volunteer application can be accessed on the organisation website (www.novas.ie) or by emailing [email protected] or ringing 061 370325 for further information. Comprehensive training will be provided to all new volunteers. 

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