Simon Community
TheSimon Communityis acharitywhich helpshomelesspeople, taking its name fromSimon of Cyrene.[1]It was founded in 1963 by Anton Wallich-Clifford,[2]who had encountered many homeless people while working for theProbation ServiceatBow Street Magistrates' Courtin London. Wallich-Clifford was influenced by the work ofDorothy Dayand herCatholic Worker Movementin the US, and his original vision was to establish a farm and community inSussex.However, local protests prevented this and the organisation developed as a chain ofhouses and night sheltersrun by local volunteers. The Simon Community was co-founded by political activistEddie Linden.[3]
Atrustwas established to manage the affairs of the charity but its administration was weak.[4]Attempts were made to transform the organisation into a decentralised federation of homelessness bodies: the Cyrenian Federation and Homes for Homeless People.[1]
Anton Wallich-Clifford died in 1978, but the original community continues where it is based and active inLondon.[4]
Ireland
[edit]In Ireland, the Simon Communities were founded by a group ofTrinity CollegeandUniversity College Dublinstudents in 1969.[5]It now operates all over Ireland, but particularly inCork,Dublin,DundalkandGalway.[6]These organisations partly (about 50%) fund themselves by hosting a number of charity initiatives and events such as theDublin Fun Run.[7]The remainder of funding comes from service contracts with government to provide homeless housing. In 2009, Dublin Simon celebrated its 40th anniversary.[8]
See also
[edit]- St Mungo's- a large charity for the homeless founded by a Simon Community volunteer.
- Museum of Homelessness
References
[edit]- ^ab"Why one charity broke away from the Cyrenians".Third Sector.25 June 2015.Retrieved22 April2017.
- ^"Introduction".The Simon Community.Retrieved22 April2017.
- ^Cooney, John (13 May 2015)."Happy 80th birthday, Eddie Linden, poet, pacifist and Catholic atheist".Retrieved18 March2018.
- ^abRoger Courtney (2002), "The Simon Community",Strategic Management for Voluntary Nonprofit Organizations,Routledge, pp. 246–254,ISBN9780415250238
- ^"A Living History".Simon Communities in Ireland.Retrieved22 April2017.
- ^"About Simon".Simon Communities in Ireland.Retrieved22 April2017.
- ^"Dublin Simon Fun Run".Dublin Simon Community.Retrieved6 December2012.
- ^RTÉ (2009),Dublin Simon Community 40th Anniversary,Dublin Simon Community
External links
[edit]- The Simon Community
- "The Simon Community, registered charity no. 283938".Charity Commission for England and Wales.
- Simon Communities of Ireland
- "Chapter 46: Simon".Victor Thomas Coughtrey. 2010 [2003].Retrieved6 December2012.
- Simon Community Northern Ireland
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