2ND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

OF

TOGETHER-RAZEM CENTRE

24TH MARCH 2014

CHAIRMAN REPORT

• 2013 – YEAR OF FURTHER DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT

•MORE FORMAL PROCEDURES FOR VOLUNTEERS AND OFFICE WORK ARRANGEMENTS

• INCREASE IN CLIENT NUMBERS

•MORE FUNDING OPTIONS –SECURING GRANTS FOR 2013

•NEW VOLUNTEERS COMING

BOARD OF DIRECTORS• WE OPERATE ON THE BASIS OF

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF TOGETHER-RAZEM LIMITED. WE ARE GOVERNED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COMPRISING OF:

• JOSEPHINE MCCARTY –DIRECTOR

• BRENDAN DEMPSEY –DIRECTOR

• KATARZYNA STUBBA – UNTIL OCT 2013

• KATARZYNA WALKOWSKA –DIRECTOR

• KATARZYNA GOLEBIOWSKA- DIRECTOR MARCIN SZCZERBINSKI –COMPANY SECRETARY

• WOJCIECH BIALEK- DIRECTOR - CEO

STEERING COMITEE• OUR STEERING COMMITEE:

• LILIA MACIEJEWSKA –OFFICE MANAGER AND TREASURER

• KATARZYNA WALKOWSKA – DIRECTOR

• KATARZYNA GOLEBIOWSKA-DIRECTOR

• MARCIN SZCZERBINSKI –COMPANY SECRETARY

• WOJCIECH BIALEK- DIRECTOR - CEO

TOGETHER-RAZEM MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS• 26 MEMBERS AS OF 1ST MARCH 2014

• MOST OF TOGETHER-RAZEM COMPANY MEMBERS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY TOGETHER-RAZEM CHARITY VOLUNTEERS.

• 2 TUS SCHEME WORKERS (1 TUS WORKER SHARED WITH “LINC” ORGANISATION )

• 4 VOLUNTEERS (NOT A MEMBERS)

SUPPORTERS

•SUPPORTERS ARE PEOPLE WHO ASSIST TOGETHER-RAZEM ON AD-HOC BASIS, EX-MEMBERS AND OTHERS LOOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORGANISATION.

•31 SUPPORTERS AS OF 1ST MARCH 2014

THANK YOU!

•I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR WORK AND ALL CONTRIBUTIONS

•YOU ARE THE LIFE AND SOUL OF OUR ORGANISATION!

WE ARE TOGETHER WE ARE RAZEM

HISTORY

•ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2006 AS AN UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATION

•OBTAINED CHARITY STATUS IN 2010, HAVING MET THE CRITERIA OF REVENUE CHARITIES SECTION

•OPERATES AS COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND NOT HAVING A SHARE CAPITAL SINCE SEPTEMBER 2012 . • IT MAINTAINS ITS CHARITABLE STATUS!

AIMS

• SUPPORTING MOSTLY POLISH AND EASTERN EUROPEAN MIGRANTS RESIDING IN CORK COUNTRY AND MUNSTER PROVINCE, WHO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES AND REQUIRE ASSISTANCE• SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE FORM OF ASSISTANCE ARE GIVEN

IN THE FOLLOWING REPORT

WE ADVISE, WE SUPPORT AND WE PROMOTE INTEGRATION

CLIENTS

•MAIN GROUPS:• PEOPLE WITH LIMITED COMMAND OF ENGLISH• PEOPLE WITH DIFFICULTIES IN CLAIMING THEIR

ENTITLEMENTS•UNEMPLOYED• PEOPLE IN NEED OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT

(DUE TO CRISIS OR LONG-TERM PROBLEMS)•HOMELESS PEOPLE• PEOPLE WITH ADDICTIONS

OUR CENTRE: OFFICE HOURS

OFFICE HOURS:

MONDAY: 10.00 - 13.30 & 16.00 -17.00

TUESDAY: 10.00 - 13.30 & 16.00 -17.000

WEDNESDAY – U-CLINIC

THURSDAY: 10.00 - 13.00 & 16.00 -17.00

FRIDAY: 10.00- 17.00

2013 REGULAR OFFER• SOCIAL ADVICE BUREAU / TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING

• LEGAL ASSISTANCE CLINICS WITH IRISH SOLICITORS

• "U-CLINIC" ADDICTION COUNSELLING

• ENGLISH CLASSES FOR ADULTS ON ALL LEVELS

• COUNSELLING

• BEFRIENDING PROGRAMME FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE

• CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY

• DRAMA GROUP "BRIC-A-BRAC“

• BEGINNER POLISH CLASSES FOR ADULTS (AIMED AT ENGLISH SPEAKERS)

• "TEA OR COFFEE" SOCIAL GROUP FOR OLDER MEMBERS OF THE POLISH

• POLISH COMMUNITY NEWS @ LIFE FM RADIO 93.1 CORK

• MOTHER AND TODDLER PLAYGROUP

• ONLINE SUPPORT @ PORADNIAONLINE.ORG

2013 MAIN PROJECTS•SEMPER POLONIA – POLISH FUNDATION MAIN GRANT PROVIDER IN 2013 ANDPOLISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

WE RUN PROJECT: SOCIAL & LEGAL ADVICE & CRISIS INTERVENTION

WE HAVE SUPPORTED IN TOTAL : 905 PEOPLE

2013 SHORT PROJECTS & PROGRAMMES•VOTING TOGETHER CAMPAIGN – SEPT – DEC 2013

• ENCOURAGING MIGRANTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS• WWW.VOTINGTOGETHER.ORG

• “ACTIVATOR” PROGRAMME FOR LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED• TWO SHORT-TERM EDITIONS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING

• POETRY EVENINGS –TWO EDITIONS ( MAY AND NOV 2013)

•U-CLINIC WORKSHOPS FOR STAFF & CLIENTS

2013 ACTIONS

•CLOTHES ACTION: COLLECTION OF SECOND HAND CLOTHES, BOOKS, MOBILE PHONES (IN COLLABORATION WITH LENREC LTD)

• PARTICIPATION IN IRISH BLOOD TRANSFUSION CAMPAIGN TWO EDITIONS (OCT 2013 & JUNE 2013)

• LIFELONG LEARNING FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION (APR 2013)

•CORK INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL 2013 OUR TEA & COFFEE GROUP PARTICIPATION (MAY 2013)

• PENNY DINNERS BOOKS COLLECTION (MAR 2013)

2013 EVENTS• 5TH ALL-IRELAND SOBRIETY CONGRESS @ SOUTH PRESS IN CORK

• FUNDRAISING CARROLS SINGING AT BLACKPOOL SHOPPING CENTRE (DEC 2013)

• CORK WOMEN’S MINI MARATHON – WE WERE RUNNING TO PROMOTE INTEGRATION (SEPT 2013)

• WELCOMING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS EVENT (JULY 2013)

• CORK CITY MARATHON PARTICIPATION SUPPORTING ADDICTION RECOVERY (JUN 2013)

• HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR CHILDREN (NOV 2013)

• LIFELONG LEARNING FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION (APR 2013)

• CORK INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL 2013 OUR TEA & COFFEE GROUP (MAY 2013)

• CORK CYCLING FESTIVAL 2013 – AGAIN OUR ACTIVE SENIOR GROUP TOOK PART

• SAY NO TO RACISM – LECTURE (MAR 2013)

FIGURES

•1771 PEOPLE DIRECTLY SUPPORTED IN 2013

•1121 INDIRECTLY THROUGH EMAILS, PHONE CALLS

• IN TOTAL 2892 VARIOUS INTERVENTIONS IN 2013

TRANSLATION, INTERPRETING AND SOCIAL ADVICE SERVICE• IN 2013 OPERATED UNDER UNDER SOCIAL ADVICE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION

PROJECT FUNDED BY SEMPER POLONIA FOUNDATION IN 2013

ON MONDAY, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

• SCOPE:

• SOCIAL WELFARE ENTITLEMENTS

• HOUSING MATTERS (LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES, SOCIAL HOUSING APPLICATIONS)

• WRITING LETTERS, APPEALS, CVS, FILLING IN FORMS

• TELEPHONE CALLS ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENT TO VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS, LANDLORDS, EMPLOYER, ETC.

• TAX ADVICE (P60, P45, ETC.), FILLING IN TAX RELIEF FORMS

• ANSWERING TELEPHONE CALLS, ENROLLING CLIENTS ON VARIOUS TOGETHER-RAZEM PROGRAMMES OR REFERRING ELSEWHERE, AS APPROPRIATE

• 426 CLIENTS IN 2013

LEGAL CLINICS• LEGAL CLINICS WERE RUN UNDER SOCIAL ADVICE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION PROJECT FUNDED BY SEMPER POLONIA FOUNDATION IN 2013

• TUE 16.30 -18.00 –KEVIN HEGARTY SOLICITORS

• LAST WED OF EACH MONTH 18.15-19.10 LILIAN O’SULLIVAN SOLICITORS

• MAIN SCOPE: FAMILY AND EMPLOYMENT LAW, E.G.

• FAMILY VIOLENCE, BARRING ORDERS, CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES, SEPARATION, DIVORCE ALIMONY, MOBBING, DISPUTES CONCERNING PRSI CONTRIBUTIONS, OVERTIME PAYMENT, WORKING CONDITIONS, DISCIPLINARY MATTERS, COMPENSATIONS ETC

• 202 CLIENTS SUPPORTED

CRISIS INTERVENTION

• CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICE WERE RUN UNDER SOCIAL ADVICE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION PROJECT FUNDED BY SEMPER POLONIA FOUNDATION IN 2013

• WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY

• MAIN SCOPE: SHORT TERM SUPPORT AND COUNSELLING

• ADDICTION, DEPRESSION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ETC

• 227 CLIENTS SUPPORTED

OTHER ADVICE

• RESPONDING TO TELEPHONE AND EMAIL QUERIES MAY QUERIES FROM OTHER COUNTIES: LIMERICK, CARLOW, LOUTH, WICLOW, DUBLIN

•1121 QUERIES DEALT WITH IN 2013

PORADNIAONLINE.ORG ONLINE SUPPORT•ONLINE SUPPORT ON A PAY DONATION AND

RECEIVE RESPONSE BASIS STARTED IN JULY 2013 UNSUCCESSFUL – NO DONATION RECEIVED

•ONLY FEW CLIENTS REGISTERED THROUGH THIS SYSTEM BUT ONLY FOR FREE OF CHARGE SUPPORT

ENGLISH LESSONS•ON AVERAGE, 60 CLIENTS PER WEEK ARE

ENROLLED FOR OUR LESSONS:

•BEGINNERS, ELEMENTARY, PRE-INTERMEDIATE

•CONVERSATIONS WITH NATIVE SPEAKERS

•ABSENTEEISM AND HIGH TURNOVER OF TEACHERS ARE A PROBLEM

• IN TOTAL WE SUPPORTED 136 PEOPLE

U-CLINIC CENTRE FOR ADDICTION COUNSELLING

• OPENED IN JANUARY 2013

• CLINICS ON EVERY WEDNESDAY

• PAID SERVICE

• 76 PEOPLE SUPPORTED IN 2013

• DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT

• 3 SUPERVISED STAFF UNDER ONGOING TRAINING

COUNSELLING SERVICES

• 62 CLIENTS SUPPORTED

• WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

• HIGH DEMAND FOR SERVICE

• TAKEN OVER BY NEW COUNSELLOR BY THE END OF 2013

HOMELESS BEFRIENDING PROGRAMME- “EVERY PERSON DESERVES ANOTHER CHANCE”• ONE VOLUNTEER INVOLVED

• PROGRAMME RUN SINCE MARCH 2012

• WEEKLY/FORTNIGHTLY MEETINGS WITH HOMELESS NON-NATIONALS AT ST. VINCENT'S SHELTER

• 15 PEOPLE SUPPORTED

• OBSTACLE: PROBLEMS WITH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SHELTER STAFF AND CLIENTS

DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFICULTIES CONSULTANCY

• 4 CHILDREN AND 8 PARENTS SUPPORTED IN 2013

• 3 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED

• POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING THE SERVICE

• BARRIERS – LACK OF SPACE FOR CONSULTANCIES

MOTHER AND TODDLER PLAYGROUP• SERVICE RE-ACTIVATED SUCCESSFULLY ON SEPTEMBER

2013

• 9 CHILDREN, AND 9 PARENTS REGISTERED

• EVERY TUESDAY FROM 11 TILL 1 PM

TEA OR COFFEE PROGRAMME FOR SENIORS• AIMS:

• INTEGRATION OF OLDER MEMBERS OF THE POLISH COMMUNITY, PROMOTING POLISH NATIONAL CULTURE & HERITAGE, SINGING

• EVERY TUESDAY FROM 7 PM TO 9.30 PM

• 25 DECLARED MEMBERS. 44 WEEKLY MEETINGS TOOK PLACE (NOT COUNTING ADDITIONAL INFORMAL ONES)

• GREAT BLOG RUN BY SENIORS @ WWW.SENIORZYTOGETHER.BLOGSPOT.IE

ACTIVATOR

• PROGRAMME FOR LONG TERM UNEMPLOYED

• 2 EDITIONS ONLY IN 2013 DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING

• 31 PEOPLE TRAINED IN 2013

DRAMA GROUP BRIC-A-BRAC

• FORMED IN JULY 2012

• 8 MEMBERS

•  5 SHOWS IN 2013 ON 29.06.13, 21.09.13, 03.11.13, 14.12.13, 19.12.13

NEW LIFE RAZEM – POLISH COMMUNITY NEWS

• POLISH COMMUNITY NEWS ON LIFE FM 93,1

• 3 TO 4 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED

• IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2012

• SO FAR 123 POLISH NEWS HAVE BEEN BROADCASTED

• PUBLICITY AROUND 2000 POLISH PEOPLE

LAUNCHING OF OUR NEW PORTAL

WWW.TOGETHER-RAZEM.ORG

CONGRATULATIONS!

• WE SUPPORTED 1771 CLIENTS

WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY:

• SEMPER POLONIA FOUNDATION

• POLISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

• COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR IRELAND

• EMBASSY OF POLAND IN DUBLIN

• HSE

• CORK CITY COUNCIL

• BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE DONORS

• ENGLISH CLASSES STUDENTS

FUTURE PLANS

• FINDING NEW, LARGER PREMISES

• SECURING GRANTS FROM NATIONAL LOTTERY HSE

• DEVELOPMENT OF OUR WEBSITE

• CREATING ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMMES

• DEVELOPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS SHELTERING PROGRAMME WITH SVP

• LAUNCHING OF A MONTHLY PAPER BULLETIN ISSUING 6K COPIES EACH MONTH – TOPICS AROUND INTEGRATION AND CORK NEWS

FUTURE PLANS

• DEVELOPING LANGUAGE PROGRAMMES

• VEC COLLABORATION

• POLISH FOR FOREIGNERS AND OTHER LANGUAGES

• U-CLINIC PROGRAMMES FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

• „ROUTE 66” RECONNECTION PROGRAMME FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION PROBLEMS

• DEVELOPING MORE PAID PROGRAMMES TO SECURE FUNDS FOR DAILY COSTS OF OUR CENTRE

DZIEKUJE