Early Christmas present for Limerick charity as it secures new base to operate from
A CHARITY group which exists to provide support to people in distress along the river Shannon finally has a home to call its own.
Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention (LTSP) has, for the last four years, been hunting for a home to reside close to the River Shannon in order to allow it a secure place to store its protective gear, and also provide a base for training.
Now in what the group’s chair Matt Collins has described as a “Christmas miracle”, their prayers have been answered, after they were afforded office space by at the former Cleeve’s factory near North Circular Road on the city’s northside.
Up to now, LTSP – whose volunteers patrol the banks of the Shannon offering help to those who need it – has been operating out of the car boots of its members and a temporary premises.
Now, with its building at Cleeve’s, Mr Collins says it will provide the charity members with some continuity.
“I cannot explain the importance of this. It is major for us. It’s vitally important we have a base to work from. I think if you have a base, you have roots and you can establish yourselves. It’s established us as far as I am concerned. Can you imagine being homeless for four years and someone says – here's the keys to a house? That’s what it feels like for us,” he said.
As well as this, it removes a cost of €400 rent a month, which will allow the charity to purchase more protective gear.
He acknowledged the initial deal is for just six months, but it’s his hope it can roll on beyond half-a-year.
LTSP has led a nomadic existence for the first few years of its life, and Mr Collins said the group would have been happy enough to erect a shipping container in a premises, so long as it is near the Shannon.
He thanked people who have offered the charity space over the year.
Last week, LTSP members patrolled the banks of the River Shannon for 24 consecutive hours for a special awareness event.
Mr Collins said they did this in order to highlight the fact that people are not just in distress at nighttime.
He said: “My aim is to get everyone around the table in Limerick so we can put on a 24-hour shift. My aim is to get a day patrol. That’s my dream: I think it’s very wrong that some think people only take their lives at night. People present in the day and there is nobody there for them. With everyone’s heads to the wheel, we should create this. It’s what I aim for.”
At present, there are riverside patrols seven nights of the week, with LTSP and another organisation - Limerick Suicide Watch - between them ensuring there is coverage.
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this article, please telephone the Samaritans on freephone 116 123. Volunteers are available 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.