Story
<p>I have been volunteering at one of DePaul's centres for just over a year now and I have loved every minute of it. I've always had a passion for working with the homeless and organizations like DePaul are fundamental in making sure that those who are homeless are not forgotten and receive proper care.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The main focus of DePaul is to provide accommodation and support for homeless people with acute needs. This means that they work with people who many others struggle to work with including: street drinkers, women leaving prison, families and those with behavioural, self-harm and addiction problems.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; text-transform: uppercase; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">DEPAUL IRELAND CURRENTLY</span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></span><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Manages </span><strong style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">15 specialised services</span></strong><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> between Dublin, Belfast, Dungannon and Derry/Londonderry</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Provides <strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">369 bed spaces</span></strong> per night for homeless people</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Supports over <strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">1000 people each year</span></strong> to make changes in their lives which will help them to move forward</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Employs over <strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">280 staff</span></strong> and engages over <strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">185 volunteers</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Focuses services to aid those <strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">most in need in the homeless community</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Works with each person or family on a one to one basis to get the support they need to make the small or big changes in their lives <strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">to realise their own potential</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><strong><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; color: #f15e25; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I will be running the Belfast City marathon on 7 May 2012 to raise money for DePaul to help them continue this vital work. DePaul rely heavily on volunteers, so if you would be interested in getting involved I would be very happy to talk to you about how to do so.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">If you feel able please donate, even better get involved! </p>