Progress Update - November 2008

Supporting and Enabling Voluntary Activity

• The Wheel provides support and representation for community and voluntary organisations and is a member of the Community and Voluntary Pillar in the national social partnership process. 
  

• The Wheel advocates for progress on the shared issues that relate to the development of the community and voluntary sector (arguing, for example, for secure funding and sensitive regulation).

• The Wheel's overarching objective is the development of a coherent policy framework for community and voluntary activity in Ireland.

• The Wheel works closely with its member organisations and holds regular workshops at which members have an opportunity to participate in policy development.  The Wheel develops its policy in these areas taking account of all the views expressed by members.

• The Wheel produces this progress update to enable our members, participants at workshops, and the community and voluntary sector at large to keep abreast of developments. If you have points that you would like to make in relation to the issues contained in this paper please email ivan@wheel.ie

How the Progress Update Works

Each of the main areas on which The Wheel is working is outlined.  These are followed by related observations that have been made at recent members workshops, and concludes with an update in relation to that heading.

Please note that the observations included in each area under the heading Points made at The Wheel's Policy Workshops do not necessarily represent The Wheel's policy, and are included to reflect the diverse opinions expressed at members workshops, and to stimulate debate. The Wheel keeps all points made by members under continuous review.

 This update deals with each of the following areas in turn

• The relationship between the community and voluntary sector and the State: developing a new framework for partnership working

• Funding the community and voluntary sector

• Providing a supportive and enabling environment for the community and voluntary sector with appropriate spaces for dialogue on sector development issues

• Providing a support-infrastructure for the community and voluntary sector

• Regulating charities sensitively

• Supporting volunteering