About Us

The Wheel is a support and representative body for community, voluntary and charitable organisations across Ireland.  Established in 1999, The Wheel has evolved to become a resource centre and forum for the community and voluntary sector.

Support

The Wheel, in its capacity as a resource centre, provides high quality support programmes to community, voluntary and charitable organisations. Our aim is to go forward with you to achieve the highest standards of practice and effectiveness.

Advocacy

We recognize that a vibrant community and voluntary sector is vital to a healthy society and democracy. Therefore we act as a representative body on those issues which are shared across all community, voluntary and charitable organisations in whatever forum we engage - making sure your interests are heard wherever we are.

Leadership

We play a leadership role by listening and responding to the unmet needs of charities and community / voluntary organisations. We recognise the intrinsic value that each individual and organisation contributes to creating an environment where community and voluntary activity can flourish. We pursue our leadership commitments in accordance with the highest standards of openness, accountability and effectiveness.

The Wheel's vision is of an Ireland with a vibrant and dynamic community and voluntary sector, as united as it is diverse, operating at the centre of Irish life and decision making as a necessary part of a healthy democracy.

Our mission is to strengthen the community and voluntary sector, focusing on organisations who seek to create a better world. We advocate for an environment that supports voluntary activity, and work to help this flourish by supporting organisations and by representing their shared interests.

Services

• General information for anyone working in charities

• Being able to ask a question by email or phone, i.e. a 'help desk' function

• Information on various topics designed to help people run their organisations and be more aware of the environment around them can be found on our various websites and briefings (see below)

• Insurance cover: www.cover.ie providing good value packages for community and voluntary organisations, specialising in Director and Officers Liability.
  

Websites:

• Information-rich general website about the sector: www.wheel.ie

• Directory of C&V organisations, Sector Connector: www.wheel.ie/sectorconnector

• Website for training courses relevant to the C&V sector: www.learningpoint.ie

• Website for getting information and assistance with Information and Communications Technoloy (ICT): www.ictpoint.ie

• Website to search grants and funders as well as assistance with fundraising: www.fundingpoint.ie

Publications:

• Le Chéile magazine - a sector-wide publication with circulation of 4,500 (3 times a year)

• Solid Foundations - good practice guide for running community and voluntary organisations. (Funded by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and based on the good practice principles in the White Paper)

• The recently published (June 2008) National Survey on Pay and Benefits in Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations

• Research reports on training and support needs in the sector (2005 and 2008)

E-Bulletins:

• FocalPoint - electronic bulletin that goes to all 750+ members once a month

• Learning Digest which goes monthly to all who register for it on www.learningpoint.ie and it relates to training courses relevant to community and voluntary organisations.

• Fundingpoint newsletter - funding news and deadlines information for those who subscribe to the newsletter on fundingpoint.ie.
  

Training / Learning programmes
Our series of workshops on a range of topics (governance, regulation, fundraising, management) that help people run community and voluntary organisations as well as get ready for charity regulation.

• The ' CEO breakfast ' series of quarterly meetings

• The only premium-level professional development programme for CEOs in community / voluntary / charity organisations - Stronger Leaders .

• Delivery of the ' Training Links ' network-led training programme delivering funding to run training programmes in the sector (funded by the National Training Fund)

Representative Work:

• General representation related to progressing the health and development of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.

• Briefings and advocacy related to the charity bill and the new regulation

• Work as a social partner to represent the sector on shared / cross-cutting issues affecting the sector.

Membership

The Wheel's membership programme offers charities the opportunity to become part of Ireland's leading support and representative network. Practical benefits include free publications on best-practice and other support materials. Significant discounts to The Wheel's workshop and training programme and the opportunity to input into national policy.

Staff

Find out more about The Wheel's office staff here. The Wheel office is located in Inchicore, Dublin 8.

Board of Directors

The Wheel is governed by a voluntary grouping of up to 20 individuals representing a broad cross-section of interests from across the community and voluntary sector who contribute strategic direction on behalf of the wider Wheel network. Elected by the membership, the Board focuses on the strategic direction of The Wheel. One third of the Board rotates off annually at the AGM, usually held in May each year.  Find out more about the board of directors here.

Funding

We are a non-profit organisation and are independent of any party political, religious or commercial affiliation. To date, The Wheel has been funded by a mixture of service fees, philanthropic donations, project grants, corporate sponsorships and state support.

Feel free to browse this website and if you ever want to talk to us call us 01 454 8727! 

Rotha Teoranta, trading as The Wheel, is a company limited by guarantee not having a share capital, registered in Dublin, Ireland with registered company number 302282.  Rotha Teoranta is a registered charity with CHY number 13288.