Community Groups & Social Enterprises Celebrate Transformative Impact of National Training Fund Support

Staff and volunteers representing community groups and social enterprises gathered at Wicklow Library on Friday 24 June to celebrate the positive impact of training initiatives funded by the National Training Fund (NTF). The event, which was hosted by The Wheel, the national association of social economy and nonprofit organisations, included a contribution from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland, Simon Harris T.D.

Speaking at the event, Minister Simon Harris said, “The community and voluntary sector is, at its heart, about people. Our skills agenda is about ensuring every person has an equal opportunity.

The partnership between The Wheel and the National Training Fund is about ensuring we create a system which belongs to all of us. One which facilitates upskilling and reskilling in the workplace and through an individual's life, regardless of circumstance, and ensures that we are prepared for the challenges ahead.”

Deirdre Garvey CEO of The Wheel said, “In Ireland, the social economy is a very significant part of our overall economy and workforce. Most people are unaware that one in every three people delivering public services is actually employed by a social enterprise or nonprofit community & voluntary organisation.”

“The NTF-funded training programmes for social enterprises, community groups and nonprofits have had a transformative effect on many of the 168,000 paid staff and nearly 500,000 volunteers working in the sector, and the positive impact of this training is visible in the communities where these organisations operate.”

“These programmes increase collaboration and impact, nurture leadership and promote best practice and good governance.  An analysis carried out by the research firm Indecon in 2020, however, found that the amount of time and investment spent on training in the social economy is still lower than in other sectors of the economy.”

“As we deal with the continuing fall-out from the pandemic, address the needs of those coming to Ireland seeking asylum from Ukraine and elsewhere, respond to the climate and biodiversity crises and respond to the needs of those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, the social economy and nonprofit  sector won’t be found wanting in working in close partnership with the state and public services to address the pressing needs of our communities. And in doing so, the need for continuous upskilling and innovation will be more necessary than ever - thus demonstrating the essential nature of this National Training Fund support for all of our workforce employees,” said Deirdre Garvey.  

Representatives of organisations that have benefited from NTF-funded programmes also spoke at the event, including Nora Moriarty from Crosscare, Lisa Marmion from Safe Ireland, Assumpta O’Neill from Wicklow Childcare Committee and Carrieann Belton from Longford Childcare Committee.

Lisa Marmion from Safe Ireland said the funding they received, “is enabling us to design and deliver customised training clearly identified as a priority by specialist domestic violence services across Ireland”.

The National Training Fund was established by the National Training Fund Act, 2000, as a dedicated fund to support the training of those in employment, and those seeking employment. The Act funds research which provides information on existing and likely future skills requirements of the economy. The NTF supports several upskilling programmes for that part of the workforce, whose employers are social economy organisations and community & voluntary groups, including The Wheel’s Training Links programme and the recently launched Leadership Academy (www.leadersacademy.ie).