Mike’s neighbours phoned
ISAS because he was disabled and could not care for himself. The
ISAS adviser who called to see him found that Social Services were
not doing all they could. The adviser got them to provide a motorised
bed. Then Mike learned that his brother had died in Ireland. The
adviser traced his family and a nephew came to visit. A few months
later, Mike died, and the adviser helped the family to make the
funeral arrangements.
OUR AIMS
ARE TO:
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DOWN THE PAGE
FOR A SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS
OF DR MARY ROBINSON'S
VISIT
TO ISAS IN JUNE 2010.
Improve the quality of
life of those who use our services
Identify those in need,
whether because of disability, poor health, or discrimination
Offer a professional and
culturally-sensitive service that fully meets the needs of people
who come to us
Maintain and enhance the
quality and effectiveness of our service
HISTORY
The Irish Support and Advice Service was established in 1969
to meet the needs of Irish immigrants to West London. Initially
ISAS worked in Hammersmith and Fulham, but service users now
come from over twenty London boroughs, and ISAS has expanded
its service to Ealing and South-West London.
Funding for any
charity is always a pressing need, as funders limit the timescale
of their support, or withdraw from the sector. Over recent years
ISAS has enjoyed consistent support from the Díon (Shelter)
Fund of the Irish government, but still has to find a considerable
proportion of its income from other sources in order to ensure
that the advice service is free to clients. Individuals also
support the running of the social groups for pensioners. ISAS
now employs specialist advisers to ensure that its services on
welfare, housing, finance, and health matters meet full professional
standards.
Research shows that Irish
people in England
WHY IS ISAS NEEDED?
Historically the Irish have been an almost invisible ethnic
minority group, even though some of its members suffer from problems
often found in migrant communities. As a consequence, the Irish
have often been overlooked by both statutory and voluntary services,
and this was why ISAS, and comparable services elsewhere in Britain,
were established. They all endeavour to ensure that vulnerable
Irish people who were not getting the assistance they needed
could get help within their community. When people come to ISAS,
they appreciate finding advisers who know about Ireland and understand
the experience of Irish migrants.
ISAS now needs to expand its activities to meet the changing needs
of the Irish communities that it currently serves and those in
other London boroughs who access our services. Our financial records
show that ISAS operates an efficient, cost-effective service, but
in order to ensure that our service continues to develop, and to
enable us to achieve our aims for expansion, we need a considerable
increase in the donations and grants we receive.
have worse health than the Irish in
Ireland;
have exceptionally high rates of cancer,
heart disease, fatal accidents and suicide;
have higher than normal rates of mental
illness and social disadvantage;
are very likely to live in isolation
or be homeless.
HOW ISAS IS MANAGED
The “Irish Support & Advice Service” is the operating name
of the Irish Charitable Trust. The Trust is registered with the
Charity Commission and with Companies House; this means that
anyone can check that the Trust reports regularly to these bodies
on its activities and provides full accounts for the money it
receives. The Trust is managed by a Board whose members are all
volunteers and come from various walks of life. They are responsible
for ensuring that ISAS is properly administered and managed,
and for overseeing the planning of its activities, and monitoring
and evaluating these. The Board helps plan and carry out fundraising
for the Service, and reports to major donors. There is an Annual
General Meeting which anyone can attend and where the officers
of the Board, and the Director, report publicly on the activities
of the previous year.
The Service is managed by a Director, who leads a team of five
advisers. They are supported by volunteers who contribute in
a variety of ways to helping the team to carry out their duties.
“You
will never know how much you changed our lives.” Nancy, 67 & Joe
74
ISAS 40TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Pictures of Dr Mary Robinson's visit to ISAS by Paul
Malone:
