SERV – Salford Edmund Rice Volunteers & St Sebastian’s Community

The much-needed work at SERV continues with the weekly drop-in sessions every Monday for
advice, support and friendship, English lessons during the week and Brothers Ger, Tony and Jim
‘on call’ for further help throughout the rest of the week.

The core work in the drop in sessions has inevitably been added to by the concerns of some
of the refugees over energy bills and how they are going to afford the significant rises that
they are facing. The tempting thing for some in this situation has been to either bury their
head in the sand, not increase their payments and end up in increasing debt or to resort to
prepayment meters as a way of controlling their costs. However, as a general point it does
seem grossly unfair that currently those on low incomes, who are more likely to choose this
option, will tend to pay a higher price for their energy per unit than those using direct debit.

The encouraging thing, however, is that the vast majority of energy providers, when
contacted, are genuinely helpful in trying to ease the situation.

The opening up after Covid allowed a visit by a group of 6th Form pupils from St Josephs in
Stoke in the summer. They spent a couple of days immediately after their A levels in Salford
having spent a couple of days visiting the Edmund Rice ministry at the Westcourt Centre in
Belfast looking at a homeless project run by Cormac McArt. It was so encouraging to meet
these young people who showed great maturity and a strong sense of social responsibility.
Earlier this term, Brother Ger also took some refugees to St Josephs to share their
experiences to a larger group of students which by all accounts was well received. As Pope
Francis has said, ‘education is the seed of hope’ and it is to the great credit of the staff of St
Joseph’s, indeed all our schools, that that seed is being nurtured so well.

In terms of working as a volunteer, much more is received than given. You cannot come
away from a session without being humbled by listening to each individual’s story, their
dignity and their determination to build a better life for themselves and their families – often
making great sacrifices. It has also continued to be a most valuable education in the politics,
history and cultures of the countries where the refugees have come from. There is much to
learn.’

Dr Richard Simpson, Volunteer at SERV