A KILCLIEF holiday home which has been a lifeline for disadvantaged young people over the past 40 years is facing an uncertain future because of a lack of volunteers.
Glebe House provided a welcome haven during the darkest days of the Troubles for children from both communities to get together and relax.
In the years that followed it evolved and today welcomes people of all ages — from young people who suffer from anxiety and depression, autism or being bullied at school, to older people who feel isolated.
It also caters for carers who need respite.
Since the breakdown of the Stormont Executive over a year ago funding for their high demand services has ebbed dramatically.
Helen Honeyman, who has been the driving force of Glebe House since its inception, says maintaining services is an uphill battle.
She said: “In 2014 we were operating on a budget of £280,000 to fund our projects and had over 20 volunteers working with us.
“This year we are already looking at a deficit of £125,000 and have almost no volunteers to help us roll out the projects. We need an acceptable adult to child ratio or else our projects cannot run.
“The budget includes accommodation and training for our volunteer team, together with ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the residential centre and land, including the care of our animals.
“Costs are increasing every year. Since 2016 we have lost EU PEACE funding and this has added to a substantial in overall funding. We really are in need of fund raising from the public to help keep us going.”
Glebe House manager Diarmaid McGarrigle blames the rise in student overheads as one reason for the shortage of dedicated volunteers, calling it a “poor indictment on our society”.
Mr McGarrigle said up until a few years ago Glebe House benefited from a “team of dedicated, driven and enthusiastic helpers.”
He said that is no longer the case because students were now having to seek paid employment to cover tuition fees and other costs.
“It is a shame because young groups need volunteers from their own peer group to relate to,” he explained.
“We can offer volunteers a wide variety of skills to choose from as we have 16 acres of farm land, animals to look after and an environment to plan and maintain. We also run lots of arts and crafts, cookery and games-centred projects.
“All we are looking for in a volunteer is someone who is dedicated to the aims and objectives of Glebe House and its projects.
“In return they will receive training in which ever area they choose to work, a lot of camaraderie and the opportunity to meet new friends.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of working at Glebe House for me is seeing children we have helped come back as volunteers years later. We push volunteers in the right direction and they receive certificates from us to show perspective employers or universities.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at Glebe House can contact 028 4488 1374 or can email info@glebehouseni.com.