Crisis Centre’s critical services boosted by Vodafone Press Ball

by Rose Rushe

THE Mid West press corps rounded on Bobby Byrne’s Bar on Tuesday to hear the roll call of beneficiaries and expectations of Vodafone Press Ball 2014, scheduled for Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday October 4.
Cabinet Minister Jan O’Sullivan, leas Cathaoirleach Joe Crowley, Sinead Clohessy of co-sponsor Specsavers Limerick and charity representatives Alli McNamara of Cliona’s Foundation and Verena Tarpey of Rape Crisis Midwest (RCM) had appreciative words for the Press Ball committee, chaired by Ron Kirwan, with Minister O’Sullivan recalling her years on the board of the crisis centre.
Given the slash in public funding in recent years in line with HSE policy guidelines, the €15,000 that the 2012 ball raised for local charities in one night is significant.
“We were thrilled to receive that phone call about Rape Crisis Midwest being a principal beneficiary,” Verena Tarpey, fundraising manager with RCM, told the Limerick Post. “Two years ago €5,000 was given to each of two principal nominees and another €1,000 to each of five smaller ones, (all) Limerick based.”
RCM is underfunded and its resources so stretched in responding to sexual assault and abuse cases for men and women that its temporary closure this summer made headlines.
“Our closure for one month this year was in an effort to bridge our significant shortfall, estimated to be in excess of €100,000,” Verena pointed out. “We made the difficult decision to close our two Outreach offices, based in Ennis and Nenagh and to stagger the service in Limerick.
“All staff have been asked to take a month’s unpaid leave and we are alternating this in Limerick to offer a skeleton service. SATU, the sexual assault treatment unit – forensic unit at regional hospital with a roster of support volunteers trained by RCM – continues to operate and it needs to be administered.”

She underlined that Nenagh Outreach service closed last month and Ennis will close for September. Anticipating full attendance at the Vodafone Press Ball 2014, she makes the point that “it is always a well attended event”.
She added: “All monies raised for us will go towards our services, which are at critical level” and drew attention to the event raising “valuable awareness and consciousness of the services that we provide”.