Council agree to donate £50,000 to St Vincent dePaul and Salvation Army

Mayor Brian Tierney at the launch of the St. Vincent de Paul/Salvation Army Christmas Family Appeal. Included, from right are Julia Mapstone, Salvation Army, Martha O'Donnell (SVdP, Strabane) and Carol McGeady (SVdP, Derry). (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

The recommendation to support the joint Christmas campaign led by St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army, was made by Council’s Welfare Reform Working Group, and came before a reconvened meeting on Friday.

It was also agreed at the meeting that Council would commence the process to seek an additional £50,000 towards hardship support, including writing to the NI Executive.

The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul are working to alleviate hardship and have been running this joint cross community Christmas campaign for the past 40 years.

Mayor Brian Tierney said: “Everyone is aware of the additional financial pressures of the Christmas period and especially this year. There are many community and voluntary organisations already providing exceptional support and the best way forward is to build on our partnership approach and utilise the first class expertise already there.”