Dublin Simon Appeal

Supporting those experiencing homelessness at Christmas time - a collaborative project with Dublin Simon Community and Localise Youth Volunteering.

Every year, UCD, in collaboration with (opens in a new window)Localise Youth Volunteering and (opens in a new window)Presentation Community College Terenure, organise a care package appeal for the rough sleepers of (opens in a new window)Dublin Simon Community. Since 2020 the care package appeal has moved to a voucher appeal, where vouchers for shops are purchased and donated to the rough sleepers of Dublin City. This allows the Dublin Simon clients to purchase their own items with support from the Simon rough sleeper team.

The TY students in Terenure encourage the UCD community to get involved and support their appeal for those experiencing homelessness, specifically the rough sleepers of Dublin City Centre and surrounding areas. As part of this Localise volunteering programme, the TY students learn about the needs of those experiencing homelessness and they plan and execute a community project that has a real and meaningful impact. This collaboration has been running since 2017 and has seen thousands of euros worth of essential items, and now vouchers, being donated to the Dublin Simon Community.

Essential items requested for the care packages included: toiletries, deodorant sets, toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, underwear, hairbrush/combs, small shampoo/shower gels, baby wipes, tissues, disposable razors, shaving gel, wallets, small radios with headphones, bags/backpacks, chocolates, hats/scarves/gloves, small torches, yoga mats, jumpers, hand sanitiser and perfume.

Since 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the usual care package appeal was not possible. The wonderful Transition Year students in Terenure Presentation Community College undertaking their Localise volunteering programme still wanted to do something to help. Taking the lead from the rough sleepers team of Dublin Simon Community, the suggestion was that people could donate vouchers and the rough sleeper team would distribute the vouchers along with cards, selection boxes and drawstring bags to their clients in the run up to Christmas. The response from the UCD community and the staff and students of Presentation Community College was astonishing, with over €3,500 worth of vouchers being donated to the Dublin Simon Community rough sleepers team.