Bernie English reports on Less Stress group
SCHOOL children in Limerick are raiding their own piggybanks to pay for essentials such as school books and uniforms- because their parents are too poor to cope with it all. That was the startling discovery made by a woman who has set up a voluntary organisation to help struggling families provide for their children’s school needs.
And the Less Stress organisation, set up earlier this year, has seen such need that it is expanding its operations, founder Suzanne Roche, told the Limerick Post.
Suzanne started the Less Stress group having seen first hand how difficult families were finding it to provide books and uniforms.
Now she has opened a not-for-profit shop on O’Connell street and is expanding the organisation’s operations as well as trying to find ways to raise funds.
“It is unbelievable how many people are in trouble and that goes right across the board. Middle income families, the kind of people who have never had to seek help before, are finding it impossible to pay out for school. Children are coming into the shop with their own pocket money to buy books and other things they need,” she told the Limerick Post.
As a mother herself and being aware of the pressures on families, Suzanne started the operation with a focus on collecting good quality used books and uniforms for the start of the school year but now she is trying to help in other ways.
“We decided to open the shop on a charity shop basis and the first four months rent were free, to give us a chance to get up and running, But that will finish in October. We need to raise funds and that means people donating items for sale or making a donation,” said Suzanne.
The Less Stress organisation has started offering courses in make-up and home hairdressing as well as an after school homework club, all of which have proved extremely popular.
And the project has been chosen by the University of Ulster community awards to receive €1,000 sponsorship for mentoring.
Less Stress is also being looked at by the City Enterprise Board and the Paul Partnership for support as a community development proposal which could employ local people.
Suzanne is now looking for corporate sponsorship and she hopes to be able to make up Christmas hampers for hard-hit families.
“There’s nothing to help middle class families who are struggling to pay their mortgages and there is a lot of need. If anyone can offer help, by donating items, volunteering, fundraising or whatever we would be very grateful. We are hoping to decorate for Christmas and to get the hampers ready,” she said.
Anyone who has a donation of items or money, or anyone who feels they may be in need of help can contact Suzanne at lessstressmoresuccess@live.co,uk.
