Students Harness Aid for the Relief of the Elderly
Encyclopedia
Students Harness Aid for Relief of Elderly (formerly Schoolboys Harness Aid for Relief of Elderly) or SHARE, is a charitable organisation based in Cork
, Ireland, dedicated to providing housing and other support for the elderly poor. One newspaper summed up that: "SHARE has brought help and hope, homes and happiness to the lonely old people who have been forgotten by society".
The organisation was founded in 1970 by Brother Jerome Kelly and students of Presentation Brothers College, Cork
, to deal with the social issues of the time. As it gathered momentum, other schools in Cork joined, and today students from 18 secondary school
s collaborate in organising every aspect of the charity. Since its founding, over 200 custom-built homes have been provided by the organisation.
Work by the members of SHARE is year-round, but its most active period is the Christmas Fast & Fundraising Campaign, when over 1800 students collect in Cork city centre. The charity's sole collection period lasts only ten days, which has made it a recognisable part of the Cork Christmas season
. It has received recognition from the media, important Irish political figures, and the people of Cork; but it is the involvement of students from all of Cork city's secondary schools has made SHARE "a truly unique and effective organisation" in Ireland today.
Jerome Kelly returned home from missionary work and was made principal of Presentation Brothers College. He organised a series of workshops, in which the students of Presentation College were encouraged to think globally and act locally. The senior students were sent out to walk the lanes and side streets of Cork City and identify the major problems themselves. While the city centre's main thoroughfares were bustling with "elegant buildings and fashionable shop windows", there existed a different reality in the dreary alleys and decaying tenements. The students were "unanimous in their belief that the greatest single need was the plight of the elderly citizens… apparently forgotten by their own people".
In 1970, SHARE was founded when a group of 12 students erected a makeshift crib
on St. Patrick's Street and fasted for thirty hours to attract attention to the plight of the elderly. At first they aimed to help the elderly by renovating the "depressing attic rooms and tiny basement flats," until the uncaring landlords increased the rent. The students obtained the support of the civic leaders at the time for their project, getting "free land in key areas of the city," and were then "faced with challenge of fundraising and ensuring homes for the elderly were built." Through their work, they had sufficient funds by 1975 to begin building the first SHARE Complex.
In 1976, twelve houses were built and furnished at Clochan Barra on Sheare's Street and accommodation for thirteen people was provided at Grenville Place. Over the following two years, eleven homes were provided at Sheare's Street, seven houses at Sunday's Well, and 13 houses at Fair Street. The nineteen houses at Shandon were formally opened by the Taoiseach
Jack Lynch
.
Following the securing of these new homes for the residents, the practice of regular visits was begun to deal with the problem of loneliness. The enthusiastic support of the people of Cork ensured the organisation’s rapid development throughout the city, and the support of the students’ parents led to the establishment of "SHARE Mothers." SHARE celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1980, with the fifteen-house complex at Abbey Street opened by President of Ireland
Patrick Hillery
. Complexes were also opened at Dyke Parade and Ardfert, Great William O’ Brien Street. In 1988, President Hillery also opened a 32 house complex at Grattan Street.
Although originally made up solely of students of Presentation College, SHARE is currently organised by an elected Executive committee of 50–60, composed of students from the 18 secondary schools in Cork city. These students are typically fifth year or senior cycle
students. Pres still maintains a strong presence on the committee, with the chairman elected from the school, in recognition of its role in founding the organisation.
The organisation's sole collection period each year is the "Christmas Fast & Fundraising Campaign", which starts on 14 December and spans the 10 day run up to Christmas. During this time, the members of the Executive committee spend as much as ten hours collecting in the city centre each day, with the focal point of the collection at The Crib in Daunt's Square. Additionally, there is a separate Fasting Committee, which spends 24 hours fasting outside the crib at a time. The campaign is therefore linked with the Christian message of the Gospel and the significance and relevance of the Christmas Crib. There are also cribs in the city’s main shopping centres, in the Blackpool, Bishopstown Court, Douglas Court, Douglas Village, Mahon Point, Merchant’s Quay and Wilton shopping centres.
Overall, 1800 volunteer students also get involved in this collection, bearing the organisation’s "trademark yellow collection boxes and enthusiastic smiles", regardless of the weather. SHARE always aims to have at least 100 collectors on the streets at any one time. While collection only occurs at Christmas, members of the SHARE Executive visit any resident of the housing schemes that desires visitation, on a regular basis. Although they are not obliged to continue to do this on a permanent basis (as the executive is changed each school year), many develop a strong bond of friendship and keep in touch for years after.
There are 167 SHARE housing units in total, located in clusters throughout Cork city: in Blackpool, Shandon Street, Sheare's Street, Grattan Street, Abbey Street, Blarney Street and Sunday's Well. These facilities are a mix of sheltered housing, apartments and small individual homes, each with "all the modern requirements" and fully furnished. Here the elderly enjoy "the freedom of their own comfortable space in a safe environment", and are provided with a range of practical services; including medical treatments, meals, laundry services and support networks as necessary.
Additionally, there is the Day Care Centre at Sheare's Street, "a really homely centre for elderly people, with practical and fun activities." Activities available include dance, arts and crafts, bingo, darts, quiz games, knitting, sewing, baking, card games, snooker and drama. Maintaining, managing and refurbishing these facilities requires continuous funding. As the Chairman of the 2007 Executive, Kevin Olden, announced:
Since the opening of the first SHARE homes in 1976, complexes have been opened by Taoiseach Jack Lynch, President Hillery, President Mary Robinson
, then Minister for Health and Children
Micheal Martin
TD
, and the various Lord Mayors of Cork
. On the opening of the 100th SHARE house, President Hillery said: "SHARE's achievements demonstrate a generosity and dedication on the part of young people which is an inspiration and challenge to us all". In 2002, the SHARE Day Care Centre was visited by President Mary McAleese
. Later, in 2006, President McAleese acknowledged the work "which changed bad lives into good."
Each year since Br. Jerome’s death, the Br. Jerome Lecture has been held in his honour, on social issues and the involvement of SHARE in the community. Guest speakers in the past have included Micheal Martin
, Pat Cox
and Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
. The Taoiseach described the SHARE project as "a model of active citizenship", "character building" and "satisfying and empowering":
The work of SHARE has also received significant attention in both local and national media over the years. The British newspaper
The Guardian
described the project as "Imaginative, courageous and exciting", while Dick Cross of The Irish Independent labelled it as: "One of the most imaginative and practical projects ever undertaken in this country". Tom McSweeney of RTÉ said the "exciting venture by Cork's youth has brought new life to the old city", and similarly Padraigh O' Morain of The Irish Times
described it as "one of Ireland's great success stories". In 2005, it was further acclaimed as a demonstration of "the magnificent generosity of the Cork people".
In 2007, the SHARE residents endorsed the organisation's 38th Christmas Fast & Fundraising Campaign. During part of the collection, eight members of the Executive sang a version of "Winter Wonderland
" in Daunt Square for Irish radio station
2FM.
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Ireland, dedicated to providing housing and other support for the elderly poor. One newspaper summed up that: "SHARE has brought help and hope, homes and happiness to the lonely old people who have been forgotten by society".
The organisation was founded in 1970 by Brother Jerome Kelly and students of Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Presentation Brothers College is a Catholic, boys-only, fee-paying college based in Cork, Ireland.- History :The college was founded by the Presentation Brothers in 1878, in the South Mall. Soon afterwards it moved to the Grand Parade and, in 1887, to the Western Road...
, to deal with the social issues of the time. As it gathered momentum, other schools in Cork joined, and today students from 18 secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s collaborate in organising every aspect of the charity. Since its founding, over 200 custom-built homes have been provided by the organisation.
Work by the members of SHARE is year-round, but its most active period is the Christmas Fast & Fundraising Campaign, when over 1800 students collect in Cork city centre. The charity's sole collection period lasts only ten days, which has made it a recognisable part of the Cork Christmas season
Christmas season
Christmastide is one of the seasons of the liturgical year of most Christian churches. It tends to be defined as the period from Christmas Eve to the evening of 5 January, the day before Epiphany...
. It has received recognition from the media, important Irish political figures, and the people of Cork; but it is the involvement of students from all of Cork city's secondary schools has made SHARE "a truly unique and effective organisation" in Ireland today.
History
In 1969, BrotherPresentation Brothers
The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local businessman, Edmund Ignatius Rice, now Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice....
Jerome Kelly returned home from missionary work and was made principal of Presentation Brothers College. He organised a series of workshops, in which the students of Presentation College were encouraged to think globally and act locally. The senior students were sent out to walk the lanes and side streets of Cork City and identify the major problems themselves. While the city centre's main thoroughfares were bustling with "elegant buildings and fashionable shop windows", there existed a different reality in the dreary alleys and decaying tenements. The students were "unanimous in their belief that the greatest single need was the plight of the elderly citizens… apparently forgotten by their own people".
Nativity scene
A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke...
on St. Patrick's Street and fasted for thirty hours to attract attention to the plight of the elderly. At first they aimed to help the elderly by renovating the "depressing attic rooms and tiny basement flats," until the uncaring landlords increased the rent. The students obtained the support of the civic leaders at the time for their project, getting "free land in key areas of the city," and were then "faced with challenge of fundraising and ensuring homes for the elderly were built." Through their work, they had sufficient funds by 1975 to begin building the first SHARE Complex.
In 1976, twelve houses were built and furnished at Clochan Barra on Sheare's Street and accommodation for thirteen people was provided at Grenville Place. Over the following two years, eleven homes were provided at Sheare's Street, seven houses at Sunday's Well, and 13 houses at Fair Street. The nineteen houses at Shandon were formally opened by the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
.
Following the securing of these new homes for the residents, the practice of regular visits was begun to deal with the problem of loneliness. The enthusiastic support of the people of Cork ensured the organisation’s rapid development throughout the city, and the support of the students’ parents led to the establishment of "SHARE Mothers." SHARE celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1980, with the fifteen-house complex at Abbey Street opened by President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
Patrick Hillery
Patrick Hillery
Patrick John "Paddy" Hillery was an Irish politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973...
. Complexes were also opened at Dyke Parade and Ardfert, Great William O’ Brien Street. In 1988, President Hillery also opened a 32 house complex at Grattan Street.
Organisation
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
students. Pres still maintains a strong presence on the committee, with the chairman elected from the school, in recognition of its role in founding the organisation.
The organisation's sole collection period each year is the "Christmas Fast & Fundraising Campaign", which starts on 14 December and spans the 10 day run up to Christmas. During this time, the members of the Executive committee spend as much as ten hours collecting in the city centre each day, with the focal point of the collection at The Crib in Daunt's Square. Additionally, there is a separate Fasting Committee, which spends 24 hours fasting outside the crib at a time. The campaign is therefore linked with the Christian message of the Gospel and the significance and relevance of the Christmas Crib. There are also cribs in the city’s main shopping centres, in the Blackpool, Bishopstown Court, Douglas Court, Douglas Village, Mahon Point, Merchant’s Quay and Wilton shopping centres.
Overall, 1800 volunteer students also get involved in this collection, bearing the organisation’s "trademark yellow collection boxes and enthusiastic smiles", regardless of the weather. SHARE always aims to have at least 100 collectors on the streets at any one time. While collection only occurs at Christmas, members of the SHARE Executive visit any resident of the housing schemes that desires visitation, on a regular basis. Although they are not obliged to continue to do this on a permanent basis (as the executive is changed each school year), many develop a strong bond of friendship and keep in touch for years after.
Facilities
Additionally, there is the Day Care Centre at Sheare's Street, "a really homely centre for elderly people, with practical and fun activities." Activities available include dance, arts and crafts, bingo, darts, quiz games, knitting, sewing, baking, card games, snooker and drama. Maintaining, managing and refurbishing these facilities requires continuous funding. As the Chairman of the 2007 Executive, Kevin Olden, announced:
Recognition and media coverage
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
, then Minister for Health and Children
Minister for Health and Children (Ireland)
The Minister for Health is the senior minister at the Department of Health in the Government of Ireland and is responsible for health care in the Republic of Ireland and related services.The current Minister for Health is James Reilly, TD...
Micheal Martin
Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...
TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
, and the various Lord Mayors of Cork
Lord Mayor of Cork
The Lord Mayor of Cork is the honorific title of the Chairman of Cork City Council which is the local government body for the city of Cork in Ireland. The incumbent is Terry Shannon of Fianna Fáil. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the Council.-History of office:In 1199 there...
. On the opening of the 100th SHARE house, President Hillery said: "SHARE's achievements demonstrate a generosity and dedication on the part of young people which is an inspiration and challenge to us all". In 2002, the SHARE Day Care Centre was visited by President Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
. Later, in 2006, President McAleese acknowledged the work "which changed bad lives into good."
Each year since Br. Jerome’s death, the Br. Jerome Lecture has been held in his honour, on social issues and the involvement of SHARE in the community. Guest speakers in the past have included Micheal Martin
Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...
, Pat Cox
Pat Cox
Pat Cox is an Irish politician and former television current affairs presenter. He was President of the European Parliament from 2002 to 2004 and served as a member of the European Parliament from 1989–2004....
and Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
. The Taoiseach described the SHARE project as "a model of active citizenship", "character building" and "satisfying and empowering":
The work of SHARE has also received significant attention in both local and national media over the years. The British newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
described the project as "Imaginative, courageous and exciting", while Dick Cross of The Irish Independent labelled it as: "One of the most imaginative and practical projects ever undertaken in this country". Tom McSweeney of RTÉ said the "exciting venture by Cork's youth has brought new life to the old city", and similarly Padraigh O' Morain of The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
described it as "one of Ireland's great success stories". In 2005, it was further acclaimed as a demonstration of "the magnificent generosity of the Cork people".
In 2007, the SHARE residents endorsed the organisation's 38th Christmas Fast & Fundraising Campaign. During part of the collection, eight members of the Executive sang a version of "Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:...
" in Daunt Square for Irish radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
2FM.
List of recent chairmen
- Peter Barrett (2003-2004)
- Stuart Cullinane (2004-2005)
- Rob Murphy (2005-2006)
- Bill Olden (2006-2007)
- Kevin Olden (2007-2008)
- James Cusack (2008-2009)
- Darragh Ó Drisceóil (2009-2010)
- Robbie Kidney (2010-2011)
- Colm Keena (2011-2012)