This document summarizes the 2nd annual general meeting of Together-Razem Centre. It discusses the chairman's report on the organization's growth in 2013 including more clients, funding, and volunteers. It provides details on the board of directors and steering committee. It then summarizes the organization's activities and accomplishments in 2013 including clients served, programs run, events held, and financial support received. It concludes with future plans to expand programs, find new premises, and develop paid services.
2. CHAIRMAN REPORT
•2013 – YEAR OF FURTHER DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT
•MORE FORMAL PROCEDURES FOR VOLUNTEERS AND OFFICE
WORK ARRANGEMENTS
•INCREASE IN CLIENT NUMBERS
•MORE FUNDING OPTIONS –SECURING GRANTS FOR 2013
•NEW VOLUNTEERS COMING
3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
• WE OPERATE ON THE BASIS OF MEMORANDUM AND
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF TOGETHER-RAZEM
LIMITED. WE ARE GOVERNED BY BOARD OF
DIRECTORS, COMPRISING OF:
• JOSEPHINE MCCARTY –DIRECTOR
• BRENDAN DEMPSEY –DIRECTOR
• KATARZYNA STUBBA – UNTIL OCT 2013
• KATARZYNA WALKOWSKA –DIRECTOR
• KATARZYNA GOLEBIOWSKA- DIRECTOR
MARCIN SZCZERBINSKI –COMPANY
SECRETARY
• WOJCIECH BIALEK- DIRECTOR - CEO
4. STEERING COMITEE
• OUR STEERING COMMITEE:
• LILIA MACIEJEWSKA –OFFICE MANAGER AND
TREASURER
• KATARZYNA WALKOWSKA – DIRECTOR
• KATARZYNA GOLEBIOWSKA-DIRECTOR
• MARCIN SZCZERBINSKI –COMPANY
SECRETARY
• WOJCIECH BIALEK- DIRECTOR - CEO
5. TOGETHER-RAZEM MEMBERS AND
VOLUNTEERS
• 26 MEMBERS AS OF 1ST MARCH 2014
• MOST OF TOGETHER-RAZEM COMPANY MEMBERS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY
TOGETHER-RAZEM CHARITY VOLUNTEERS.
• 2 TUS SCHEME WORKERS (1 TUS WORKER SHARED WITH “LINC” ORGANISATION )
• 4 VOLUNTEERS (NOT A MEMBERS)
6. SUPPORTERS
•SUPPORTERS ARE PEOPLE WHO ASSIST
TOGETHER-RAZEM ON AD-HOC BASIS, EX-
MEMBERS AND OTHERS LOOSELY
ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORGANISATION.
•31 SUPPORTERS AS OF 1ST MARCH 2014
7. THANK YOU!
•I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR
WORK AND ALL CONTRIBUTIONS
•YOU ARE THE LIFE AND SOUL OF OUR ORGANISATION!
WE ARE TOGETHER WE ARE RAZEM
8. HISTORY
•ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2006 AS AN
UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATION
•OBTAINED CHARITY STATUS IN 2010, HAVING MET THE
CRITERIA OF REVENUE CHARITIES SECTION
•OPERATES AS COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND NOT
HAVING A SHARE CAPITAL SINCE SEPTEMBER 2012 .
•IT MAINTAINS ITS CHARITABLE STATUS!
9. AIMS
• SUPPORTING MOSTLY POLISH AND EASTERN EUROPEAN MIGRANTS RESIDING
IN CORK COUNTRY AND MUNSTER PROVINCE, WHO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES
AND REQUIRE ASSISTANCE
• SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE FORM OF ASSISTANCE ARE GIVEN IN THE
FOLLOWING REPORT
WE ADVISE, WE SUPPORT AND WE
PROMOTE INTEGRATION
10. CLIENTS
•MAIN GROUPS:
•PEOPLE WITH LIMITED COMMAND OF ENGLISH
•PEOPLE WITH DIFFICULTIES IN CLAIMING THEIR ENTITLEMENTS
•UNEMPLOYED
•PEOPLE IN NEED OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT (DUE TO CRISIS OR
LONG-TERM PROBLEMS)
•HOMELESS PEOPLE
•PEOPLE WITH ADDICTIONS
12. 2013 REGULAR OFFER
• SOCIAL ADVICE BUREAU / TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING
• LEGAL ASSISTANCE CLINICS WITH IRISH SOLICITORS
• "U-CLINIC" ADDICTION COUNSELLING
• ENGLISH CLASSES FOR ADULTS ON ALL LEVELS
• COUNSELLING
• BEFRIENDING PROGRAMME FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE
• CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY
• DRAMA GROUP "BRIC-A-BRAC“
• BEGINNER POLISH CLASSES FOR ADULTS (AIMED AT ENGLISH SPEAKERS)
• "TEA OR COFFEE" SOCIAL GROUP FOR OLDER MEMBERS OF THE POLISH
• POLISH COMMUNITY NEWS @ LIFE FM RADIO 93.1 CORK
• MOTHER AND TODDLER PLAYGROUP
• ONLINE SUPPORT @ PORADNIAONLINE.ORG
13. 2013 MAIN PROJECTS
•SEMPER POLONIA – POLISH FUNDATION
MAIN GRANT PROVIDER IN 2013 AND
POLISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
WE RUN PROJECT: SOCIAL & LEGAL ADVICE
&
CRISIS INTERVENTION
WE HAVE SUPPORTED IN TOTAL : 905 PEOPLE
14. 2013 SHORT PROJECTS &
PROGRAMMES
•VOTING TOGETHER CAMPAIGN – SEPT – DEC 2013
• ENCOURAGING MIGRANTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
• WWW.VOTINGTOGETHER.ORG
•“ACTIVATOR” PROGRAMME FOR LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED
• TWO SHORT-TERM EDITIONS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING
•POETRY EVENINGS –TWO EDITIONS ( MAY AND NOV 2013)
•U-CLINIC WORKSHOPS FOR STAFF & CLIENTS
15. 2013 ACTIONS
•CLOTHES ACTION: COLLECTION OF SECOND HAND CLOTHES, BOOKS,
MOBILE PHONES (IN COLLABORATION WITH LENREC LTD)
•PARTICIPATION IN IRISH BLOOD TRANSFUSION CAMPAIGN TWO
EDITIONS (OCT 2013 & JUNE 2013)
•LIFELONG LEARNING FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION (APR 2013)
•CORK INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL 2013 OUR TEA & COFFEE
GROUP PARTICIPATION (MAY 2013)
•PENNY DINNERS BOOKS COLLECTION (MAR 2013)
16. 2013 EVENTS
• 5TH ALL-IRELAND SOBRIETY CONGRESS @ SOUTH PRESS IN CORK
• FUNDRAISING CARROLS SINGING AT BLACKPOOL SHOPPING CENTRE (DEC 2013)
• CORK WOMEN’S MINI MARATHON – WE WERE RUNNING TO PROMOTE INTEGRATION
(SEPT 2013)
• WELCOMING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS EVENT (JULY 2013)
• CORK CITY MARATHON PARTICIPATION SUPPORTING ADDICTION RECOVERY (JUN
2013)
• HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR CHILDREN (NOV 2013)
• LIFELONG LEARNING FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION (APR 2013)
• CORK INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL 2013 OUR TEA & COFFEE GROUP (MAY 2013)
• CORK CYCLING FESTIVAL 2013 – AGAIN OUR ACTIVE SENIOR GROUP TOOK PART
• SAY NO TO RACISM – LECTURE (MAR 2013)
17. FIGURES
•1771 PEOPLE DIRECTLY SUPPORTED IN 2013
•1121INDIRECTLY THROUGH EMAILS, PHONE CALLS
• IN TOTAL 2892 VARIOUS INTERVENTIONS IN 2013
18. TRANSLATION, INTERPRETING AND SOCIAL
ADVICE SERVICE
• IN 2013 OPERATED UNDER UNDER SOCIAL ADVICE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION PROJECT FUNDED
BY SEMPER POLONIA FOUNDATION IN 2013
ON MONDAY, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY
• SCOPE:
• SOCIAL WELFARE ENTITLEMENTS
• HOUSING MATTERS (LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES, SOCIAL HOUSING APPLICATIONS)
• WRITING LETTERS, APPEALS, CVS, FILLING IN FORMS
• TELEPHONE CALLS ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENT TO VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS, LANDLORDS,
EMPLOYER, ETC.
• TAX ADVICE (P60, P45, ETC.), FILLING IN TAX RELIEF FORMS
• ANSWERING TELEPHONE CALLS, ENROLLING CLIENTS ON VARIOUS TOGETHER-RAZEM
PROGRAMMES OR REFERRING ELSEWHERE, AS APPROPRIATE
• 426 CLIENTS IN 2013
19. LEGAL CLINICS
• LEGAL CLINICS WERE RUN UNDER SOCIAL ADVICE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION
PROJECT FUNDED BY SEMPER POLONIA FOUNDATION IN 2013
• TUE 16.30 -18.00 –KEVIN HEGARTY SOLICITORS
• LAST WED OF EACH MONTH 18.15-19.10 LILIAN O’SULLIVAN SOLICITORS
• MAIN SCOPE: FAMILY AND EMPLOYMENT LAW, E.G.
• FAMILY VIOLENCE, BARRING ORDERS, CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES,
SEPARATION, DIVORCE ALIMONY, MOBBING, DISPUTES CONCERNING
PRSI CONTRIBUTIONS, OVERTIME PAYMENT, WORKING CONDITIONS,
DISCIPLINARY MATTERS, COMPENSATIONS ETC
• 202 CLIENTS SUPPORTED
20. CRISIS INTERVENTION
• CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICE WERE RUN UNDER SOCIAL ADVICE AND
CRISIS INTERVENTION PROJECT FUNDED BY SEMPER POLONIA FOUNDATION
IN 2013
• WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
• MAIN SCOPE: SHORT TERM SUPPORT AND COUNSELLING
• ADDICTION, DEPRESSION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ETC
• 227 CLIENTS SUPPORTED
21. OTHER ADVICE
• RESPONDING TO TELEPHONE AND EMAIL QUERIES MAY QUERIES FROM OTHER
COUNTIES: LIMERICK, CARLOW, LOUTH, WICLOW, DUBLIN
•1121 QUERIES DEALT WITH IN 2013
22. PORADNIAONLINE.ORG ONLINE SUPPORT
•ONLINE SUPPORT ON A PAY DONATION AND RECEIVE
RESPONSE BASIS STARTED IN JULY 2013
UNSUCCESSFUL – NO DONATION RECEIVED
•ONLY FEW CLIENTS REGISTERED THROUGH THIS
SYSTEM BUT ONLY FOR FREE OF CHARGE SUPPORT
23. ENGLISH LESSONS
•ON AVERAGE, 60 CLIENTS PER WEEK ARE ENROLLED FOR OUR
LESSONS:
•BEGINNERS, ELEMENTARY, PRE-INTERMEDIATE
•CONVERSATIONS WITH NATIVE SPEAKERS
•ABSENTEEISM AND HIGH TURNOVER OF TEACHERS ARE A
PROBLEM
•IN TOTAL WE SUPPORTED 136 PEOPLE
24. U-CLINIC CENTRE FOR ADDICTION
COUNSELLING
• OPENED IN JANUARY 2013
• CLINICS ON EVERY WEDNESDAY
• PAID SERVICE
• 76 PEOPLE SUPPORTED IN 2013
• DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT
• 3 SUPERVISED STAFF UNDER ONGOING TRAINING
25. COUNSELLING SERVICES
• 62 CLIENTS SUPPORTED
• WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
• HIGH DEMAND FOR SERVICE
• TAKEN OVER BY NEW COUNSELLOR BY THE END OF 2013
26. HOMELESS BEFRIENDING
PROGRAMME- “EVERY PERSON
DESERVES ANOTHER CHANCE”
• ONE VOLUNTEER INVOLVED
• PROGRAMME RUN SINCE MARCH 2012
• WEEKLY/FORTNIGHTLY MEETINGS WITH HOMELESS NON-NATIONALS AT ST.
VINCENT'S SHELTER
• 15 PEOPLE SUPPORTED
• OBSTACLE: PROBLEMS WITH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SHELTER STAFF
AND CLIENTS
27. DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFICULTIES
CONSULTANCY
• 4 CHILDREN AND 8 PARENTS SUPPORTED IN 2013
• 3 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED
• POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING THE SERVICE
• BARRIERS – LACK OF SPACE FOR CONSULTANCIES
28. MOTHER AND TODDLER PLAYGROUP
• SERVICE RE-ACTIVATED SUCCESSFULLY ON SEPTEMBER 2013
• 9 CHILDREN, AND 9 PARENTS REGISTERED
• EVERY TUESDAY FROM 11 TILL 1 PM
29. TEA OR COFFEE PROGRAMME FOR
SENIORS
• AIMS:
• INTEGRATION OF OLDER MEMBERS OF THE POLISH COMMUNITY, PROMOTING
POLISH NATIONAL CULTURE & HERITAGE, SINGING
• EVERY TUESDAY FROM 7 PM TO 9.30 PM
• 25 DECLARED MEMBERS. 44 WEEKLY MEETINGS TOOK PLACE (NOT COUNTING
ADDITIONAL INFORMAL ONES)
• GREAT BLOG RUN BY SENIORS @ WWW.SENIORZYTOGETHER.BLOGSPOT.IE
30. ACTIVATOR
• PROGRAMME FOR LONG TERM UNEMPLOYED
• 2 EDITIONS ONLY IN 2013 DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING
• 31 PEOPLE TRAINED IN 2013
31. DRAMA GROUP BRIC-A-BRAC
• FORMED IN JULY 2012
• 8 MEMBERS
• 5 SHOWS IN 2013 ON 29.06.13, 21.09.13, 03.11.13, 14.12.13, 19.12.13
32. NEW LIFE RAZEM – POLISH
COMMUNITY NEWS
• POLISH COMMUNITY NEWS ON LIFE FM 93,1
• 3 TO 4 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED
• IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2012
• SO FAR 123 POLISH NEWS HAVE BEEN BROADCASTED
• PUBLICITY AROUND 2000 POLISH PEOPLE
35. WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY:
• SEMPER POLONIA FOUNDATION
• POLISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
• COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR IRELAND
• EMBASSY OF POLAND IN DUBLIN
• HSE
• CORK CITY COUNCIL
• BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE DONORS
• ENGLISH CLASSES STUDENTS
36. FUTURE PLANS
• FINDING NEW, LARGER PREMISES
• SECURING GRANTS FROM NATIONAL LOTTERY HSE
• DEVELOPMENT OF OUR WEBSITE
• CREATING ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMMES
• DEVELOPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS SHELTERING PROGRAMME WITH SVP
• LAUNCHING OF A MONTHLY PAPER BULLETIN ISSUING 6K COPIES EACH MONTH –
TOPICS AROUND INTEGRATION AND CORK NEWS
37. FUTURE PLANS
• DEVELOPING LANGUAGE PROGRAMMES
• VEC COLLABORATION
• POLISH FOR FOREIGNERS AND OTHER LANGUAGES
• U-CLINIC PROGRAMMES FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
• „ROUTE 66” RECONNECTION PROGRAMME FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH
ADDICTION PROBLEMS
• DEVELOPING MORE PAID PROGRAMMES TO SECURE FUNDS FOR DAILY COSTS
OF OUR CENTRE
