Depaul Slovensko celebrated the 10th anniversary of opening its St Vincent Nightshelter on 21 December 2016.  During those 10 years the shelter has supported at least 6,000 people who are homeless with a bed for the night and warming food to eat. It marked the occasion with its third ‘Dome Dobre’ annual concert for service users and supporters, held this year on 11 December at the shelter.  Three bands played during the afternoon, styles varying from jazz to pop, and there were plenty of celebration refreshments available, including a fabulous chocolate birthday cake!  Besides the music, there was a photo exhibition mapping 10 years of the charity, and two workshop sessions for representatives of NGOs in Bratislava working with homeless people – some lively debates.

It was also a chance to invite back as guest of honour Kieran Walsh, one of Depaul UK’s regional services managers in 2006, who donated his own time for several weeks to helping the Bratislava team bring the stark warehouse building into a state of readiness for it’s first guests that cold December night.  Kieran’s knowledge of the sector was invaluable in setting up the project from the outset with good systems and procedures, but in a way that also made the clients coming in off the street feel welcomed.

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