‘To do something for someone that makes a huge difference in their lives is really rewarding’

THE manager of an inspiring local organisation in Trim that won big at last year’s National Lottery Good Causes Awards says it is "a privilege" to be a part of an initiative that helps older people continue to live independently.

South Meath Social Economy took home a top prize of €10,000 in the Community category in recognition of their project ‘Homelife’ and are encouraging other groups to enter this year's competition.

The social enterprise has been in operation for 22 years and services 1,400 people annually. South Meath Social Economy’s work not only provides essential services but also inspires with their commitment to compassion and community service.

Homelife is part-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development with the funding administered by Pobal and provides essential care and support services to help older people and individuals with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes.

Their services include home maintenance, accessibility modifications, garden upkeep and personal support to ensure safety, comfort and dignity.

Homelife focuses on preventing premature entry into care facilities by addressing key challenges that might force someone out of their home, such as mobility issues, home safety concerns or lack of social support.

"We were set up as a reliable reasonably priced home and garden maintenance company for older people that would go out and specifically look after older people so there wouldn't be strangers calling at the door," said manager Eileen O'Neill.

"But our remit has gone beyond that. Our goal is to keep older people living in their homes as long as possible in our communities and prevent them from early entry into nursing homes," she added.

"If they need housing adaptations, we will go out and do the work and it will get them out of hospital and respite quicker back to their families and community."

Eileen said the social enterprise was responding to a demand for services like it provides.

"There was a need for this, tradesmen weren't interested in going out and changing a light bulb or driving half way across the country for small jobs," said Eileen.

"There was a huge demand there and Meath has one of the fastest growing populations in the country," she added.

Homelife receives referrals in a number of ways from organisations to word of mouth as Eileen explains:

"We work very closely with other service providers in the community. The public health nurse, St Vincent De Paul, ALONE and the Gardai would refer people to us.

"Someone's son or daughter might have heard about us and they could ring up looking for work to be done. Then we have regulars that we have been looking after for the last 22 years.

"We have nine tradespeople on the road with seven vans.

"We are really embedded in the community, whether it is just one person down a lonely country road seeing a van go by or linking in with community organisations that provide services to older people."

Homelife also carry out county council grant works converting bathrooms to wet rooms, installing ramps, windows and doors and other jobs.

"If people want to apply for grants it can be very daunting for them, there is a lot of paperwork to be gathered, forms to be filled in so I call out to people's homes and do all of that with them and take them through the whole process," said Eileen.

But it is not only building and maintenance work that South Meath Social Economy pride itself on, it's the rapport its team has with their clients.

"It's a social thing as well where some clients may not see someone from one end of the week to the other and just really enjoy a chat," said Eileen.

"To be able to do something for someone that will make a huge difference in their lives and enable them to remain in their community and be active citizens as well is really rewarding," she added.

"We take for granted the knowledge older people have in the community. If you go out to fix a leaky tap if that’s not fixed it can lead to bigger problems and we are stopping the big problems from occurring."

Eileen said winning the national prize in the community category was an "incredible honour."

"It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of our work and bring attention to the challenges faced by older people living alone," she added.

"The experience gave us great exposure, helping us to connect with more people in need and raise awareness about the services we offer.

"The awards night itself was inspiring and uplifting, celebrating so many amazing organisations making a difference across Ireland.

"We met incredible people and organisations doing great work in their communities — it was a reminder of how vital these supports are.

The recognition helped validate the work Homelife carry out and showed that the impact the organisation is making in the community is truly valued according to Eileen who said:

"It provided a huge morale boost for our team, volunteers, and the people we support.

"The publicity has helped us reach more people in need — some who didn’t know about our services before.

"It also strengthened our credibility, making it easier to secure funding and support to expand our work.

"Overall, it has allowed us to continue growing and making a difference for even more people in our community.

"Winning €10,000 enabled us to purchase essential equipment, helping us to expand and grow our service.

"It was a great opportunity to reflect on our achievements and how far we’ve come as an organisation."

The team at the National Lottery was incredibly helpful and encouraging throughout the entire process as Eileen explains;

"Their enthusiasm and support made us feel valued and recognised right from the beginning.

"Even before we won, the communication was positive, professional, and uplifting, making the experience enjoyable.

"The whole process felt more like a celebration of community impact rather than just an application for an award.

They ensured that the experience was smooth, inclusive, and stress-free, making it accessible for organisations of all sizes."

Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage and the Irish Language. In total, more than €6.5 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 37 years ago. In 2023 alone, €227.9 Million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.

Applications are now being accepted from groups, clubs and individuals in Meath for this year's National Lottery Good Cause Awards.

The awards honour the inspiring work and achievements of projects, clubs and individuals all over Ireland, who have had an extraordinary impact on their local communities.

Individuals, community projects and organisations in Meath who received funding from the awards between the 2020 and 2024 are eligible to apply.

This year’s Good Causes Awards has seven categories: Sport, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Heritage, Community, Youth and Irish Language.

Each category winner receives €10,000 while the overall Good Cause of the Year receives an additional €25,000.

For more info see www.lottery.ie