Homelessness in Dublin is an issue that Transdev has to deal with on a daily basis as they operate the LUAS system. Drivers, inspectors and maintenance staff interact face to face with homeless people in and around the LUAS system and over the years have built up relationships with many, making them genuinely concerned for their health and wellbeing.
Transdev have been working with Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) in Dublin City Centre since 2014, initially in the form of providing benefit in kind for the fundraising events that they run.
In 2015 Transdev went beyond expectations when they were approached by ICHH to develop a new and unique charity event, the result of which has become the annual shoebox appeal for the homeless of Dublin, entitled the Fillaluas Shoebox Appeal. There have been 3 events held to date.
Transdev provide a tram at Connolly LUAS platform for a day in the lead up to Christmas. Transdev decorate it in the days before the event and man it for the day with staff volunteering from across the company. The tram becomes the centre-piece with the public coming all day to drop off shoe boxes filled with necessary items for the homeless. ICHH provide additional volunteers who help with the logistics of moving shoeboxes during the day as well as providing food and hot drinks and haircuts to homeless people on the platform. In addition, they collect much needed funds to sustain their services.
Transdev and ICHH have grown this event annually into an event that captures the public attention in the run up to Christmas, in Dublin and nationally. The call for shoeboxes results in the public dropping shoeboxes to LUAS drop off points and ICHH offices throughout the Christmas period and not just on the specific day in Connolly.
Transdev and Inner City Helping Homeless have been shortlisted for the Partnership with a Charity award in the Chambers Ireland Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2018. The entry is for the FillaLuas Homeless Shoebox Appeal which we have partnered with ICHH on for the last 3 Christmases. The 2017 event resulted in:
- 20,000 shoeboxes collected
- 152 Breakfasts served on the day
- 212 Lunches served on the day
- 156 Dinners served on the day
- 24 haircuts given to the homeless
- 411 teas/coffees served on the day
- Event trended number 1 in Dublin on Twitter most of the day
Transdev and ICHH are already planning the 2018 event and hope that being shortlisted for this award will help emphasise the issue of homelessness in Dublin and the great work that many charities are doing.
