Louise was a support worker with COPE Galway’s Senior Support Service. She shared her observations of how the Sonas Drop-in Centre positively impacted the local people who used the service.
Louise Glynn joined COPE Galway in August 2022 after completing an LLM (Master of Laws) in Human Rights Law at Queen’s University Belfast.
She said COPE Galway had been on her radar for years, and she was happy about the opportunity to work for such an established organisation.
Louise started out working in the Family Hub at COPE Galway’s Homeless Service but found the shift work challenging and difficult to balance alongside her parenting responsibilities.
She had previously worked as a Healthcare Assistant in a nursing home where, she remembered, “Coming in every day with a smile and a positive attitude was very important. I was very attuned to the residents’ needs and would always find a way for them to be met.” Having found this previous experience working with older people so rewarding, she decided to make the switch to Sonas Drop-in Centre in October 2022. She also felt it would be a better match for her diverse skillset.
Alongside Louise in Sonas, there were three Community Employment staff, one Tús employee (community work placement participant), and one volunteer to support clients with things like accessing healthcare or linking them in with other services.
Louise said a lot of the clients who dropped in had a very limited support network, if any at all. She was there to assist with anything clients might need, from key holding to helping them use a computer, from changing a lightbulb to welfare checks.
She enjoyed the way no two days were ever the same and described herself as “a jack of all trades.”
“You’re social worker slash support worker slash advocate.”
“It’s going from high needs to the basics,” she said. “You’re a huge support for the community.”
It was clear from Louise’s open and warm personality that she was well suited to the role, and she said she built a lot of trust in a short space of time.
“This place is like home,” she said. “It’s like their living room.”
Louise and her team listened to and observed their clients’ needs and tried to adapt and facilitate whatever they could at Sonas to suit them.
One initiative she was particularly proud of was the introduction of the breakfast mornings at Sonas, where clients could come in first thing and select an affordable home-cooked meal of their choice from a nutritious menu.
This initiative was in response to clients saying they would prefer not to eat all of their meals alone.
“One of the biggest issues our clients face is social isolation. Now in the mornings they’re chatting round the table having the craic or sharing their problems with one another. It’s comfort and peer support for them. It’s just amazing.”
“That’s what makes it,” Louise said. “When you see the impact that you have on someone’s life.”
She said the space created a “micro-community” where clients had built their own support network and looked out for one another.
She mentioned there was no way of predicting what kind of practical and emotional needs might come through the door that day, but regardless, she always gave it her all.
“You really give 100% to making sure that they’re okay. Because it’s just the caring nature of the profession. I’ve always loved helping people. I love to see people happy with a smile on their face.”
For further information about COPE Galway Sonas Social Centre, phone 091 753 402.