Each year, since 1983, Banna Rescue, a voluntary inshore and land rescue unit in Kerry, hosts their annual Christmas Swim. At precisely 12.30pm, hundreds of daring dippers, some in fancy dress, will make the first of three mad dashes into cold Atlantic waters. Then it's back to the Rescue Centre for some warmth and refreshments.

Happy Christmas from the We Act Campaign!

We're now in the countdown to Christmas! As the excitement builds for the holiday, we want to thank all the staff and volunteers who give up their time during this busy season to make our communities feel merry and to make our world a bit lighter and more hopeful. 

We Act celebrates everyone from the bucket shakers to the meal deliverers, the helpline volunteers, the foster caregivers, the Christmas swimmers, and everyone in between.

We hope you enjoy this issue of the Good News Gazette and We Act sends warm wishes to you and yours this holiday season!

Until next year,

The We Act Steering Group

Eva Gurn and Hannah Coleman, Boardmatch   

Áine Myler and Scott Kelley, Charities Institute Ireland   

Allen Dunne, Disability Federation of Ireland   

Ronan Doyle, Dóchas   

Ivan Cooper and Emily Bourke, The Wheel   

Amy Woods and Nina Arwitz, Volunteer Ireland  

Madeline Campbell, We Act Campaign 

Ciara Murphy and her fellow volunteer get dressed up in festive attire for their Christmas Eve visit to Crumlin hospital.

Ciara Murphy has been a Play Volunteer with Children in Hospital Ireland since 2014. At the heart of Children in Hospital Ireland’s work is its play service which is available to children in 14 hospitals throughout Ireland. Volunteers provide engaging and supportive play in wards, playrooms, emergency departments and outpatient departments, nurturing curiosity and creativity and providing distraction from the stress of being in hospital.

Ciara visits Crumlin hospital to provide respite to kids and their families from the daily medical procedures. This year, after many previous Christmas seasons, she’ll be visiting on Christmas Eve to bring the holiday magic to kids.

“I knew I loved children, and I thought it would be a wonderful way to give back. So, in 2014, I trained up and began volunteering and I haven’t looked back since. It’s really the most wonderful thing and has completely changed my perspective on life.”

So now, once a week, Ciara will visit children in the hospital. Colouring, painting, playing whatever game they might want, or even just sitting for a chat. “A few weeks ago, I visited a little guy who wanted to ‘play adventure’. So in his room, I followed him around as he led me across the world on an adventure. The kids really are the most incredible little people.”

After her first year, she approached her Volunteer Manager asking if it was possible to visit on Christmas – no other volunteers were visiting at the time. Once everything was cleared, she and her friend arranged to meet with the kids who hadn’t been discharged from the hospital for the holiday. Many times, children who are well enough can go home for Christmas, but those who need constant care will have to stay. “I feel it’s the time when, as a volunteer, I make the most impact.”

This Christmas Eve, she will be visiting children in the hospital to sing Christmas carols, read stories, and play Christmas games.

“For me, it’s always the highlight of my year and definitely the highlight of my volunteering experience. The parents and the kids really appreciate it so much. You can really feel the impact you’re making for these families”.

Mohamed Ali Hage serving food at Tiglin's No Bucks Cafe.

Mohamed Ali El Hage, a refugee, began volunteering with Tiglin just two days after arriving to Ireland after leaving his home country of Lebanon. “My brother Sal had moved to Ireland years prior and had been volunteering for the last 13 years. He put me in touch with Tiglin and now I’ve been volunteering for eight months every single Tuesday”.

No Bucks Cafe, operating at the Lighthouse, is an initiative of Tiglin. It provides vital services to those experiencing isolation through homelessness. Open 7 days a week, the café meets the needs of over 200 people daily.

“My work at Lighthouse includes serving food, sweeping the floor, sorting and giving out clothes that come in as donations, security, putting out the bins, and occasionally also helping the chef. I do everything I can to help out. I put a special emphasis on greeting our clients and engaging with them as much as I can. I am aware that my English is still improving, but I don’t let that limit me. It is going great so far. I feel like I am making a difference.”

This Christmas, Mohamed will be giving up his time to help organise and prepare the annual Christmas meal for the homeless at the Lighthouse on Pearse Street.

“I think that this the most important time of the year to help other people. I am aware that many of our clients don’t have a positive relationship with their families. For that reason, they might feel alone or lonely. I know I will be there for them. We are already working on gathering Christmas presents. We hope to have about 250 of them.

I really believe in the cause that we work to achieve at Tiglin every day. I use to feel that I wished could take on the burdens people carry but now I realise that we are all fighting our battle. I can only do my best to show them support and care. Tiglin staff and volunteers show me great attention as well. That is why places like the Lighthouse are there, to help alleviate their suffering.

On arriving to Ireland, I was welcomed with open arms. I feel very grateful for that. Ireland is an amazing country with amazing people, so I want to take an active part so I can show my appreciation.”

Sharon Keogh stands in the dining hall where families will have their Christmas dinner.

For four and a half years, Sharon Keogh has dedicated her time to Ronald McDonald House and the families that come to stay. After starting her own volunteer group, she came to the organisation as a fundraiser and, as Head of Operations, has now launched a wellness programme for families.

“I worked in finance for years and, in 2010, I had premature twins at 26 weeks. They were in the ICU and one of the girls, Emily, passed away. It was a really difficult time, with limited resources at the hospital, so I turned to charities for help and found ways I could support them.

When the dust settled and the wounds healed, although I’ll always have the scars, I quickly realised my role in finance was not fulfilling. I’d always had a determination to keep my daughter Emily’s memory alive, by working with families who have suffered a child loss or experienced premature birth and all its complications and tribulations.

For many years I volunteered as a fundraiser and advocate with various children's charities, and eventually co-founded a small, completely voluntary, premature baby-focused charity called the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance. This gave me the platform to share my story, support other parents and work with hospitals to advocate their child’s needs and increase their support.

Fast-forward a couple more years and I summoned the strength and courage to pivot completely into the charity sector by applying for a role with the Ronald McDonald House Ireland. I humbly and very proudly get to care for, and chat to, hundreds of families as they navigate through their journey of childhood illness. The hospital does an amazing job caring for their sick child and we get to look after and focus on their family. With day-to-day home comforts and supports being our priority, along with focusing on their emotional and mental health, our house prides ourselves on the personal services we provide for each of our families. Our door is always open and the kettle is always on.”

With the arrival of COVID, it was decided that there was a need to focus on more holistic support and so the #We’veGotYou wellness programme was developed.

“With feedback from families we created a programme that would make sure we weren’t just providing a roof to stay under, and food at the table, but an all-encompassing service – one that takes care of the families’ mental health and well-being.

Anything on a day-to-day basis you might worry about can seem a million times bigger for these families, so the app was a great place to start for our programme in providing resources. In addition to the app, each family staying with us was given a backpack filled with journals and supplies for taking care of their mental health.”

The programme officially launched in October this year and has transformed the house and those living in it.

“The feedback has been amazing. The atmosphere in our home has completely changed. For each family that comes to our house, I personally write a card to include in their bag, letting them know that we’re here, we’re all human too, and we are totally behind them.”

Christmas can be an especially turbulent time for families with children in the hospital, so Sharon and their team of 12 work to make the whole season a magical time. As part of the wellness programme, their sitting room received a makeover and now serves as the meeting place for all of their events.

Sharon and volunteers at the house will be helping decorate and making the house Christmassy, stuffing goody boxes for the children and their siblings, and making Ronald McDonald House feel like home. And this past week on December 10th, volunteers came in to cook for the annual Christmas dinner – this takes place prior to the holiday because often times children who are well enough will be discharged from the hospital and families can return home for a few weeks.

“We, of course, have a lovely feast on Christmas Day, but we want to make sure any family who stays with us feels that Christmas spirit. Santa visits the children and we serve up a gorgeous three-course meal. Myself and all the other staff and volunteers fight over who gets to come in for the day. It’s such a beautiful buzz. You can hear Santa ringing the bell and there’s laughter, so much laughter.”

We Act is a national, collaborative campaign to celebrate the value and impact of the charities and community groups in Ireland. It is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development. 

Got a story? Email madeline@wheel.ie

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