In 1997, during the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Irish famine, health service staff in Cork and Kerry established SHARP to help relieve poverty both abroad and at home.
Currently over 500 staff are members and have contributed €1,760,695 to 227 projects. This has saved and changed the lives of thousands of people who have suffered extreme poverty and deprivation. The majority of the beneficiaries are children.
It is worth noting that every euro can achieve approximately ten times more in a developing country.
It is a record of real achievement that our members are proud of.
SHARP makes EVERY cent count!
Examples:
- Provision of clean water to communities to prevent needless deaths of children
- Training and equipping of local midwives to prevent maternal and infant deaths
- Feeding programmes for malnourished children
- Construction and equipping of rural hospitals
- Construction of schools and education of children
- Support for disadvantaged families and elderly in Ireland
What we do
Operating policies and principles
- Every cent donated goes directly to projects
- Nothing goes to administration costs or salaries of any organisation
- No member of SHARP can get any payment from the fund for any reason
- All members have free access to the files and records
Projects funded by SHARP
HSE Approval and support
The HSE Management and Staff support SHARP by:
- Facilitating members’ contributions from pay
- Auditing the accounts of the Association
- Providing all stationery, postage and other administrative requirements
- Providing advice and participation in drafting and distributing information and reports
- Facilitating information days in hospitals and other large centres
- Facilitating presentations to induction and retirement seminars
How we are managed
We are a registered charity (no.CHY12582) and are compliant with the Irish National Code of Governance. Control over the funds is directly in the hands of our members by means of:
- A Constitution, which includes strict rules regarding payments
- A Management Committee with a majority elected by the members (two nominated by HSE Management)
- An annual audit carried out by senior officers of the HSE
- Regular reports to members
If we all gave as little as €2 per fortnight ... (a cup of coffee!)
... we would raise over €850,000 annually!
Together... we can make a big difference
Ní neart go cur le chéile
Contact us
SHARP News
Our Constitution
AGM 2020