Choosing a charity to donate your money, time and belongings can do more than just help your favorite cause. Giving can also provide you with many personal benefits, from a sense of well-being to strengthening relationships in your community.
Whether you donate to charities that work across issues such as poverty, the environment, animal welfare, or other global or local problems, these organizations depend on others (including yourself) for their selfless initiatives.
This blog will focus on the different charities in Limerick and how you can be of help!
Best Charities in Limerick
No matter what the cause you are supporting, giving back to the masses can feel great on the inside. Nevertheless, we have crafted a list of relevant criteria for choosing the best charity for you.
1. Enable Ireland
| Range of support | ★★★★★ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Reputation | ★★★★★ |
| Transparency | ★★★★★ |
| Experience | ★★★★☆ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
Enable Ireland offers free services to children and adults with disabilities and their families in various locations throughout the country.
Its mission is to provide services that enhance the lives of children and adults in their community. In particular, Enable Ireland provides these to allow those who help attain independence while remaining connected with family and peers.
Their Assistive Technology training program is one of their highlight services. On a surface level, this program aims to revolutionize the modules in schools to emulate a more accessible learning mode for children.
With the help of their research-backed programs, Enable Ireland assists children and adults to develop in all aspects of their physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development.
In fact, they currently have specific teams who work with the individuals and their families to help create customized plans for every stage of their lives. Their website also has several resources accessible for those who need them most without paying a single penny.
Their customer service isn’t the best, though. There have been multiple instances wherein philanthropists delivering donations found the offices of Enable Ireland closed, as their operating hours are not stated on their website.
Every year, Enable Ireland must come up with €2 million in additional funding to meet the cost of delivering its services. Without extra funding, Enable Ireland wouldn’t be able to help the families who depend on their programs for assistance.
To help the cause, Enable Ireland has opened donation channels on their website. They also have second-hand charity shops both physically and online to help garner funds for their services.
Pros
- Offers a variety of services to children and adults throughout Ireland
- Has a broad network of community-based sites
- Works in partnership with the Health Service Executive
Cons
- No operating times on their website
- Office is far from the center of Dublin
Customer Reviews
Great group that helps so many others
“Great group of people who help so many others. Right across the disabled community. Leaders in assistive technology for people with disabilities. They do so much its impossible to list in a review.” – Gary Kearney
Hugely positive experience
“Volunteering with Enable Ireland has been and still is a hugely positive experience and one that never ceases to be rewarding.” – Geraldine
2. ADAPT Domestic Abuse Services
| Range of support | ★★★★★ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ |
| Transparency | ★★★★☆ |
| Experience | ★★★★☆ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
ADAPT is an organization that defends women and children who have been victims of domestic abuse. They are 100% voluntary, and they operate throughout Limerick.
Having been set up in 1974, they have become the biggest NGO in Ireland regarding protection against home violence. Also, they currently manage a refuge that provides shelter for battered women and their children.
ADAPT provides 24-hour helpline support for victims of abuse so that they can get help if needed. We’re big fans that this shelter accepts not only women but also men and children that have been victims of physical or mental abuse.
We’re impressed that this shelter provides several amenities, including full meals, on-site laundry facilities, and a safe, relaxing environment. They also have consistent access to counselors and social workers available to aid each victim through the darkest periods in their life.
ADAPT also supports and counsels young adults, empowering them and children affected by domestic violence. The crisis team coordinator conducts assessments to determine the type of response required and works with service providers to meet their needs.
While there are many choices on their website for donations, it would help if they had a flexible option for those with limited funds.
Pros
- Caters to all victims of domestic abuse
- Runs several fundraising and awareness-raising activities throughout the year
Cons
- Limited rooms in shelter
- No office hours
Customer Reviews
So very supportive
“Absolutely amazing. The staff is one in a million and so very supportive. I felt free and safe, so so safe. I stayed there some years ago and have to go back again, and I know the staff will be supportive again. I honestly feel that the stigma of staying in a women’s shelter is frowned upon, and the ‘general public’ still does look down on you, but the staff in adapting will treat you with respect and make you feel like a human being again, thank you. And s& so and.” – Avril Wallace
Leading the way
“So proud of@lpoolcouncil—leading the way imaginatively to ensure everyone who was rough sleeping or has become homeless in a pandemic — relationships breakdown, domestic abuse— are housed. Thanks@Liverpoolshellfor continuing to work + adapt services!” – Clare McIntyre
3. Headway Ireland
| Range of support | ★★★★☆ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★★ |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ |
| Transparency | ★★★★☆ |
| Experience | ★★★★★ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
Headway is a center for brain injury services and support that aims to bring about positive life changes in the lives of those affected. Accredited internationally as a leader in this field, they contribute positively to the lives of people across Ireland no matter who or where they are.
Headway has been established to support those and their families affected by a brain injury. They provide services, procedures, information, facilities, and events tailored to your individual needs.
Also, they provide clients access to other community resources that can help them regain their independence in the areas of whatever difficulties they may have experienced due to the brain injury.
They work with communities that improve accessibility to environments for those who may have hidden disabilities and are unaware that they need any particular provision. CARF International accredits its services for adults for Brain Injury Speciality.
Unlike other organizations, Headway doesn’t have extended operating hours. Contact them for appointments if you can’t reach them when their hotlines are open!
There are several different ways to show your support for this cause. Supporters donate any amount they can spare and can also encourage other people who, like themselves, have been affected by traumatic brain injury to join Headway and get on board too!
Pros
- Provides education, counseling, and support groups for family members over 18
- Accredited by CARF International
Cons
- Short operating hours
- Headquarters is in a busy part of the city
Customer Reviews
Extremely professional important service
“Headway offers an extremely professional and important service to those who have an acquired brain injury or stroke. Wonderful people give hope to those at a low point in their lives and help clients regain their confidence.” – Ursula Stokes Agency
Very helpful and friendly
“I find them very helpful and friendly. They try to help all clients as best they can. They usually ask what clients hope to achieve by attending, and how they can help with that.” – Mary Connellan
4. The Blue Box
| Range of support | ★★★★☆ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ |
| Transparency | ★★★★☆ |
| Experience | ★★★★★ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
The Blue Box is a children art therapy project growing from a need identified in the community. They provide art-based psychotherapy and treatments for children (mainly from marginalized and impoverished backgrounds) in Limerick, Ireland.
The project aims to give children the opportunity to find meaning in their experiences through art.
This includes recognizing their full potential, enhancing self-esteem, interpersonal skills, and self-expression, improving attention span and concentration, increasing physical mobility, and enhancing feelings of safety, trust, and connection.
Children attend weekly camps at The Blue Box, where they can express themselves creatively with trained professionals such as child psychologists, art therapists, teachers, psychotherapists, or social workers.
The Blue Box provides services like education and psychology that are community-focused and meet the more significant needs of the neighborhood.
Their Creative Therapy Service works with groups of young people within different settings. Primarily, they offer assistance with a range of problems relating to the development of children or the absence thereof.
They work with the social welfare divisions of public schools to provide counseling for kids in the primary through secondary grades.
On another note, we would love it if they had longer hours as this could help assist more children.
Pros
- Affordable and accessible
- Creative Therapies include art, music, play, drama, and dance movement therapy
Cons
- Services are limited to children
- Short operating hours
Customer Reviews
Fantastic service
“Fantastic service. Play therapy for kids who might be going through tough times at home or school.” – A. Murphy
Miles of smiles!
“Delighted to have had the opportunity to work with Blue Box at Supercar Sunday. It was a very sunny, colorful, enjoyable, and successful day with lots of money raised for a great charity. MILES OF SMILES!” – Jack Kingston
5. Doras Luimni
| Range of support | ★★★★★ |
| Service | ★★★★★ |
| Responsiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| Helpfulness | ★★★★★ |
| Reputation | ★★★★★ |
| Transparency | ★★★★★ |
| Experience | ★★★★★ |
| Staff | ★★★★☆ |
Doras Luimni is a non-profit voluntary organization that was established in Limerick, Ireland. They mainly work with local community members – including (but not limited to) refugees who face precarious situations.
The organization was established and is run primarily by volunteers. They have increased over the years and now employ more than ten full-time and part-time staff members.
Doras Luimni partners up on projects that cover a wide range of migrant service support, including advocacy work, provisions of health care services as well as educational initiatives.
With their partner organizations, Doras Luimní provides services which encompass a multitude of areas related to equality and opportunities for them in their community. She offers several benefits to all migrants, regardless of their status or situation.
The charity provides information and guidance through a center open to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. They also run an anti-trafficking office for trafficking victims to help them get back on their feet.
Doras Luimni also offers training classes wherein basic English language classes are offered throughout the academic year for migrants.
Another thing is that we would really want to see extended opening hours. This would be beneficial because this could assist more migrants in need of help.
Pros
- Offers multi-sectoral help to migrants
- Focused on literacy and policy-making
Cons
- Short operating hours
- Services limited to migrants living in Limerick and the wider Mid-West region
Customer Reviews
Helpful
“You should call them before coming. Ladies helped me with filling in documents. Thank you 🌺” – Olena Oleksienko
Interesting and varied
“Really interesting and diverse work here. Collegiate working atmosphere, helpful and prepared to bounce ideas off each other. The management was very approachable and there was an opportunity to use my own initiative in solving client problems.” – Anonymous