Galway Simon has been working to tackle homelessness for over 40 years – and at the core of that commitment are dozens of volunteers who help to keep the charity functioning on so many different fronts.

From catering for those without a home to running charity events or looking after the charity’s shop; befriending those who use the service, supporting those in housing services – or sharing their own skills and knowledge to the benefit of those service users – they all play a critical part in the Simon story.

So last week the charity took the opportunity to say thanks, as the country marked National Volunteer Week.

They held their first ‘Volunteer Appreciation’ event to acknowledge and pay tribute to those volunteers. The party was held in Shantalla – and Ground & Co. and Hyde Hotel sponsored the vouchers for the event.

Galway Simon Community was set up in 1979 by a group of volunteers who refused to accept homelessness on the streets of Galway.

And with the support of the wider community, they have grown, developed, learned and adapted over the years to become a leading provider of homeless and homelessness prevention services in the region.

Key to the charity’s vision is a belief in a person’s right to security, dignity and wellbeing in their own home.

And many of those who help to deliver that vision turned out for a special day – and a chance to say thanks for all of the work they do.

Pictured at last week’s Simon Volunteer Appreciation event for National Volunteer Week were (from left) Karol Cooke; Conor Kennedy from sponsors Hyde Hotel; Carolyn Herbert; Noreen Glennon, Maureen Gibbs; Mary O’Reilly; Fintan Maher; Zara Kelly from the Hyde Hotel, with (front) Muriel Silke, Kathleen Walsh and Kay McGiollari. Inset: Simon volunteers Carol and Ollie Hynes.