Members Spotlight

We asked the PPN Representatives some questions about themselves, their organisations and the PPN – here are the answers!

What is your organisation’s name?

– Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre

Why did your organisation join the PPN?

– We are stronger together! 

Why did you become a representative / join the PPN Secretariat?

– Passionate about the need to prioritise social cohesion in Dublin City so we can all thrive.

What would you like to achieve in your role as rep/ Sec member?

– A city action plan on social inclusion and cohesion.

How do you report back to your organisation with updates on PPN proceedings?

– Generally verbally at team meetings when relevant.

What advice would you give other community groups in getting involved with the PPN?

– Set aside some time for it, its worth it, but plan engagement into your work.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself – for example, interesting hobby, sports achievement, whatever is unique to you!

– I love cooking for friends and family

Friends of the Elderly is an Irish volunteer based charity established in 1980 to bring friendship and companionship to older people living alone or who feel lonely. Since opening our doors we have been working to improve the lives our older members by offering emotional and social support. With a small staff and a dedicated crew of volunteers, we reach out in various ways to our older neighbours. Our goal is to enable our older members to maintain their independence while helping them feel connected to a larger community. We offer volunteers the opportunity to join our older members in friendship and celebration of life.

Our focus is on a practical approach to dealing with loneliness and social isolation, alleviating its effects by providing social engagement programmes such as Home Visitation, Friendly Call Service, Social Club and organising Day Trips or Social Events. In the last year we were privileged to touch the lives of up to 500 older women and men, all with the help of over 150 volunteers. Friends of the Elderly receives no government funding: all funds are raised from individual and corporate donors. We want to thank everyone for their support.

Find out how you can help or get involved by visiting our website.

Profile

Adekunle Gomez is the secretary and programme director of the African Cultural Project (also known as, The Africa Institute in Ireland). The main objective of the African Cultural Project is to provide information on Africa to the Irish public. Through the facilitation of cultural and educational events featuring Africa’s rich and diverse cultural traditions, the project aims to promote an understanding of the African continent and of the countries and people of Africa. The African Cultural Project has collaborated with a variety of institutions throughout the years including the National Concert Hall, the Chester Beatty Library, the Irish Writers’ Centre, the Public Library system, Local Authority Arts Officers, Alliance Française Dublin, University Language departments, and others.

When did your organization/group join the PPN?

African Cultural Project has been an active member of the Dublin City community since joining the Council’s community forum in 1999. It continued this participation by joining Dublin City PPN in 2017.

What was your main reason for joining the PPN?

The Irish Blue Cross animal welfare charity was founded in 1945 by a group of like-minded people determined to prevent the live exportation of Irish horses to the continent for slaughter. It wasn’t long before the group realised that the plight of Dublin’s sick dogs and cats desperately needed to be addressed. The solution came when the first Irish Blue Cross mobile clinic hit Dublin’s streets in 1953, prioritising it’s presence in areas where there was highest demand for charitable veterinary services.

In 2009, our small animal clinic was established with state of the art facilities at our base in Inchicore, Dublin 8. The opening of that clinic, complemented by our mobile clinics, has made an immeasurable difference to so many communities across Dublin and without our support, many families would struggle with providing necessary care and assistance for their pets. Today, our clinic services have expanded to ten locations across Dublin each week day evening, locations such as Cabra, Tallaght, Blanchardstown, Crumlin, Ballyfermot, Ballybrack, Smithfield, Walkinstown, Finglas and Donnycarney. Where pets require more comprehensive clinical examinations and treatments, they are referred to our Inchicore clinic.