Comedian Des Bishop launched a new fundraising drive for children's charity Barnardos at St Audoens National School in Dublin today.
The campaign is focused on raising urgently needed funds and aims to recruit 1000 new supporters for the children's charity. It needs to raise €4.2 million this year to ensure it can continue to work with vulnerable children in Ireland through its network of 32 centres.
Speaking at the launch, Des Bishop urged the public to rally behind Barnardos's appeal.
"Barnardos works directly with children in some of the most disadvantaged communities in Ireland. Areas that have been over-looked and left behind in the economic boom that has created a chasm between those who have in this society and those who have not," he said.
"As little as €7 per month can make a huge difference to the lives of the 150,000 kids who live in consistent poverty in Ireland. These kids need Barnardos's help to get the most from the opportunities that education offers and to break the cycle of poverty," he added.
Fergus Finlay, Chief Executive of Barnardos, said it was 'too easy' to lose sight of the children who are most in need of society's support.
"These kids have become the hidden victims of our wealth and success as a nation. It shocks me that children are being robbed of their potential, of their future. We need to give these children choices, and fair chances, through education," he said.
Winnie McDonagh, a Barnardos project worker, outlined some of her experiences working in disadvantaged communities in Ireland.
"You could walk into a house where a parent is working a second job to keep food on the table and a child is at home minding younger children. You will see a level of need in the home which ends up with electricity not being switched on for a certain percentage of the day. I have seen homes where things like skirting boards are pulled off to light a fire," she said.
Barnardos's services are targeted to the needs of each individual child. Their work with children and families includes after-school groups; home-work clubs; teen parent programmes to assist young parents to care for their children and, in many cases, to complete their own education.
Barnardos also works with children who are experiencing behavioural difficulties and who are at risk of early school leaving or who are ill-prepared socially and emotionally to participate in the school environment.
To make a donation or to sign up for a monthly direct debit, call 1850 216 216; or for more information on how you can help visit www.barnardos.ie