Paul Raymond with London-based Mary Williamson, 89, who was born in Limerick and grew up in Dublin. Photo: Irish Chaplaincy in London Looking after Irish people who are away from home remains a key priority writes Aron Hegarty
The Irish chaplaincy in London is offering a contact service for anyone in Ireland with concerns about vulnerable, older family members or friends isolated in the city.
The chaplaincy says it will make direct contact, on the concerned persons behalf, and provide links to services and community groups on the ground, local to where an individual is stranded.
Paul Raymond of the Irish Chaplaincy Seniors Project based in London told The Irish Catholic the organisation is there to “give support, bring hope and keep spirits up”.
“We want to emphasise that we are here for any vulnerable Irish person in London,” he says, “whatever type of needs they have – be it spiritual, emotional or practical.
“There has been an increase in the demand for our services and supports, and we have responded by increasing the number of calls we make and the supports we offer.”
As many Irish people moved to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, the Church in Ireland recognised that moving to another country was no small endeavour and that it would take time for those people to settle in.
In response to this, the Irish Emigrant Chaplaincy was established by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference in 1957.
Their work embraced the core meaning of Catholic, which is ‘universal’ and ‘inclusive’, to assist those Irish most isolated and vulnerable, regardless of their religious background.
Today, the Irish Chaplaincy in London (as it is now known) is a registered charity providing outreach services to three main groups: elderly Irish people – known as the ‘Seniors’ Project’, prisoners and to Travellers.
“Many of those we work with are finding it difficult being isolated,” Raymond says, “so we are really going to extra mile and doing what we can to try and help.
“We tell them not to watch too much news, as many of them would be worried about loved ones and not being able to return home.
“Some have lost people close to them during this crisis and are not be able to physically gather with family to mourn, attend funeral Mass or the burial, so it is crucial that we are there to assist them in whatever way we can.”
He continues: “A lot of them would not have regular visits from family or friends here (London) or from Ireland, and often – especially during this time – we are their only visitors.
“They rely on our supports and help, it’s not easy but we are trying to keep them encouraged, linked and it’s really important that we keep their spirits up.”
Services provided through the Seniors’ Project consist of regular visits to older Irish people in their home, in hospital or residential care home and spending quality time with them to offer positive support and encouragement.
gular telephone contact to ensure isolated older Irish have someone to talk to and share their hopes and concerns with.
The service liaises and advocates on their behalf with health and social care providers and a range of other organisations as required.
Furthermore, the Project helps them to reconnect with their families back in Ireland and explore older people’s Faith and spirituality with them, linking them to a local Faith community if requested.
“We are trying to give people access to their Faith and fill the gap of not being able to attend Mass, receive Holy Communion or express their Spirituality.
“Being isolated,” Raymond explains, “means they can’t physically attend churches to practice their Faith or meet their fellow parishioners in the community through going to Mass as they normally would do.
“Most of them don’t have a PC, laptop, mobile phone with internet or access to online resources to be able to stream Mass or watch religious services over the web.
“So what we are doing is we are looking at ways we can assist with technology, such as using digital radio to tune them in to their local stations back in Ireland or providing them with tablets.”
He adds: “What we are also doing is asking local parishes and children from Catholic schools in the area to make notes and drawings plus write cards and prayers for us to give to them.”
The Chaplaincy is also the only charity in the UK that offers help to Irish prisoners.
The charity gives support to Irish prisoners through regular visits and provides them and their families with advice and information, keeping in contact by letter and assisting families in Ireland to visit prisoners in England and Wales.
Additionally, the Chaplaincy offers pastoral support if requested, researches, identifies and responds to prisoner needs and work closely with other organisations and prison departments to care for the welfare of Irish prisoners and their families.
The Travellers Equality Project is another outreach service provided by the Chaplaincy, which works closely with the Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to provide information, advice and free bespoke resources for practitioners working with Travellers.
Traveller forums are held in prisons, diversity training is offered for support groups and thorough research is carried out to identify the needs of Irish Travellers.
The Irish Chaplaincy in London offers these supports as a free service and contact can be made from Ireland by post: PO BOX 75693 London NW1W 7ZT, by email seniors@irishchaplaincy.org.uk and by phone 0044 (0) 20 7482 3274.