Dublin Simon Community

The Dublin Simon Community provide services to over 7,600 people and families each year across Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They provide emergency accommodation, sustainable long- and short-term housing, outreach and prevention for those at risk of homelessness, and treatment & recovery services.

• Find out more about the Dublin Simon Community’s mission and work 

Hope Foundation

The Hope Foundation is a charity working with street-connected and slum-dwelling children in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India. HOPE funds and operates 58 projects in the following programme areas: Protection, Education, Healthcare, Life Skills and Emergency Response.

• Find out more about the Hope Foundation’s mission and work

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How the funds are spent 

Dublin Simon Community 

Funds raised for the Dublin Simon Community support its High Support Long Term Housing service, Chester House, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. This residential service provides an inclusive, low threshold housing service to 42 people, both male & female, who are homeless who require a high level of care and support. Each resident of Chester House actively works with supports and resources available, including: primary, community, continuing & acute care; community & social services; literacy, participation & development services; and harm reduction. 

Dublin Simon Community is delighted to be one of the charity partners for this year’s Calcutta Run. Last year was our first time partnering with the event, and we were truly impressed by the planning, execution, and the overall enthusiasm surrounding it. The Law Society, along with the Calcutta Run committee from A&L Goodbody, organised a fantastic day for the Dublin run. The atmosphere was incredible, and there was a large turnout. 

It was heartening to see the legal sector come together, not only for some friendly competition but also to raise funds for homeless communities both locally and abroad. Thanks to the event, Dublin Simon Community received €160,000 to support our long-term supported accommodation services. These funds are invaluable in helping our most vulnerable clients, providing them with a safe place to live, healthcare, as well as community, social, and development services. Without the support of groups like the Calcutta Run, who recognise the need and make such a significant impact, we would not be able to maintain our services at this high standard. A huge thank you to everyone involved, and we look forward to participating again this year!  

Meadbh Langton, Corporate Partnerships Manager 

The Hope Foundation 

Funds raised for The Hope Foundation directly support the following initiatives in Kolkata: 

Ashar Alo Residential Child Care Centre for Girls – This centre provides all the necessary care for young women to become independent, informed and confident young women through guidance, education and job placement support. 

Emergency Response Unit – in partnership with HIVE, HOPE delivers a 24 hour, 7 days a week response unit of social workers, who respond immediately to those in need. The Unit attends to any person on the street requiring medical assistance and people abandoned on the street due to domestic violence, human trafficking, violation of human rights and laws. The Unit particularly focuses on street dwelling children, women and elderly. Where possible and appropriate, the Unit reunites individuals with their families, assists below poverty-line families to access medical care and through strong referral networks, supports at-risk individuals to link with Government departments such as the police, Child Welfare Committee and judicial court to get shelter in appropriate half-way homes and after care units. 

Snehneer Residential Child Care Centre for Girls - Snehneer ensures the holistic development of children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS through protection, healthcare, nutrition, education, and recreation in a loving and caring family environment 

The Hope Foundation’s charity partnership with the Law Society began in 2017 and since then, the funds raised by the ILS team for HOPE, has amassed over €1,078,00.00. 

This staggering amount is life-changing - helping to ensure the sustained implementation of HOPE’s Kasba, Snehneer, & Ashar Alo Residential Child Care Centres, HIVE Emergency Response Unit and HOPE Hospital. 

HOPE's vision is of "a world where it should never hurt to be a child "– year on year, The Law Society of Ireland are helping HOPE to realise this vision. We cannot thank The Law Society enough for their support, co-operation and trojan efforts over the years, and HOPE is honoured to partner with this incredible team. 

Maura Lennon, CEO, International Operations