Since 2002 the Society of St Vincent de Paul has been involved in developing a training programme for its members and staff throughout Northern Ireland.

Training is delivered by professional trainers appointed by each of the Health & Social Service Trusts in Northern Ireland to groups of Society volunteers and staff highlighting the issues of child abuse and its many ramifications.

 

 

Need for Training

 

With over 180 conferences (groups of between 5-10 volunteers) throughout Northern Ireland and over 100 paid staff, this is a massive task. Most of our volunteers only see children within a family unit during visitation but many are also involved with playgroups, crèches and after-schools activities where they come into contact with children on a regular basis.

 

In a Society such as ours, where relationships are formed with the families we help, we are in a unique position to gauge any signs of neglect or other abuses and alert the professionals. It is our moral duty, which we must observe as failure to act could have disastrous consequences. Even if our fears are groundless, we cannot afford to do nothing.