COPE Galway supported almost 3,000 people in the city and county last year, across all their services.
The charity’s annual report for 2021 shows that COPE cared for 2,885 people through its homelessness, domestic abuse, and senior support services.
COPE has launched its annual report this morning, with guest speaker and human rights expert, Mr. Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.
Speaking from Vienna, he took part in a Q&A session addressing issues such as the right to a home of your own, and inequalities in society that lead to isolation for older people, and that force women and children to leave their abusive homes.
COPE Galway’s CEO, Michael Smyth remarked about the numbers in the report; “This represents a 10% increase on the numbers of men, women and families our organisation served the previous year”.
“A figure that is unfortunately only going to increase as we face into the challenging social and economic landscape that lies ahead.”
At the report launch, attendees heard from staff about the challenges they have faced on delivering services, and keeping the doors open.
Mr Smyth continued, “It is thanks to the commitment and resilience of our staff and volunteers and the strength and determination of our clients that we were in a position to support so many in 2021.”
“Throughout the year, our staff continuously found new ways and innovative approaches to progress our clients through our services towards a better quality of life.”
