Priorities for a New Government

PRIORITIES FOR INCLUSION IN PARTY MANIFESTOS FOR GENERAL ELECTION 2011

Our charities and voluntary community groups are more important than ever

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With the social and economic crisis intensifying and hundreds of thousands of people fearing for their livelihoods and the wellbeing of their families and friends, the work of Ireland’s 7,500 charitable, community and voluntary groups is more important than ever.

Charities deliver vital services for vulnerable people

Charitable voluntary groups deliver essential services for children, older people, and people with intellectual and physical disabilities; they provide social housing, help the homeless and hungry, raise funds for development aid, assist people in deprived urban and rural communities, provide sports and recreation facilities and advocate with-and-for our most vulnerable people and groups. Without these services the state couldn’t meet the needs of our vulnerable people.

Our charities and voluntary community groups are more important than ever

Demand for services is continuing to increase while supply decreases

A total of 73.2% of members of The Wheel have experienced an increase in demand for their services since July 2010 whilst 54.5% have suspended or delayed projects due to financial considerations in last 6 months. One in four groups believe there is a risk that they may have to suspend their operations within the next year. On average, funds for most groups have fallen between 15% and 20% since 2008.

Charities are innovative solution finders in addressing our social and economic crises

Charities develop new and improved ways of delivering services and supports for people in the financially pressured environment we face and they:

are flexible, agile and innovative in changing circumstances
benefit from volunteers with powerful motivations for positive social change
raise funds from diverse sources to complement statutory provision
advocate from the experience of disadvantaged people

Now is the time to play our role in the reform of our public services

Charitable voluntary groups want to contribute more to improving the lives of vulnerable people by participating in transforming Irish social services. They are innovators in involving service-users in designing and delivering flexible, value-for-money, person-centred outcomes. We ask all political parties to commit to involving community/voluntary organisations in reforming our public services to ensure the service-user is at the heart of our public services and to get the maximum value for money from scarce public funds.

We are part of the solution - but we need support to maximise our impact

We need to develop a culture of effective partnership-working between voluntary organisations and state bodies when they work together to design and deliver services for the public benefit (which is the raison d’etre both of charitable voluntary groups and statutory bodies).

We call for the inclusion of the following in the manifestos of all political parties:

1 - A statement articulating the importance and value of the community and voluntary sector.

2 - Prioritisation of services for the clients of community and voluntary organisations

3 - Dedicated support for the community and voluntary sector through:

(a) Establishing a new framework for partnership working to deepen the relationship with the community and voluntary sector.

(b) Rolling out sensitive and supportive regulation through the Charities Act 2009.

(c) Providing a comprehensive range of practical supports for staff and volunteers working in and governing charities.

(d) Providing public funding sufficient for community and voluntary groups to deliver the social outcomes Irish society has a right to (e.g. establish multi-annual funding as the norm, so as to allow for advance planning).

4 - Involvement of the community and voluntary sector in reforming public services.

If we want to develop and support sustainable communities that underpin an equal and just Ireland, then we must support voluntary activity in a comprehensive and coherent manner. This will be achieved when community and voluntary organisations are funded appropriately, regulated sensitively and supported comprehensively.

Download a PDF version of this document below.