PRESS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 26 JUNE 2020, 3PM
Issued by The Wheel
COVID-19 STABILITY FUND: THE WHEEL WELCOMES
€10.5M ALLOCATION FOR CHARITIES
“The Wheel calls for new government strategy to support
the work of charities in the post-lockdown environment”
The Wheel, the national association of charities, today welcomed the announcement of €10.5m in funding for charities under the COVID-19 stability fund. The scheme was devised by the Department of Rural and Community Development following a detailed submission by a group of 14 representative bodies in the broad charity, social enterprise and community & voluntary sector, facilitated by The Wheel.
Commenting on the announcement, Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel said, “We are very pleased to see these first badly-needed funds being transferred to financially impacted charities today. These funds will go a long way to help hard-pressed organisations to continue their essential work in the period ahead. We are looking forward to announcements on additional tranches of funding under the scheme. We would also like to thank Minister Michael Ring and the Department for Rural and Community Development for putting this scheme in place at a point when many charities are on the verge of collapse.”
Ireland’s charities are experiencing an estimated €500m hit to fundraised and earned income resulting from activity suspended by the COVI-19 crisis. “While the €35m Stability Fund goes some way to closing the gap, the scheme was primarily designed to support the worst-hit charities to cope with urgent cash-flow and liquidity needs. A medium to long term strategy is now needed to support the work of charities in the post-lockdown environment”, said Deirdre Garvey.
“The Wheel will continue the positive engagement and work with the incoming government to ensure that the health and wellbeing of communities continue to be the priority in the challenging months ahead. Never has it been more important to put community first,” said Deirdre Garvey.
-ENDS-
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Gert Ackermann on 086 176 9287.
NOTE TO EDITORS
- The Wheel has been working with 14 charities and sector infrastructure bodies and this grouping has come together to campaign for a support package for charities, social enterprises and community & voluntary organisations. The group made formal submissions to Government on 6 and 15 April 2020.
- The group comprises: The Alliance of Age Sector NGOs[1], Boardmatch Ireland, Carmichael, Charities Institute Ireland, Clann Credo, Disability Federation of Ireland, Dóchas, Irish Rural Link, National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, National Forum of Family Resource Centres, National Youth Council of Ireland, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Volunteer Ireland and The Wheel
- According to the Register of Charities there are over 10,000 charities registered in Ireland, and a further 20,000 community and voluntary organisations in the wider non-profit sector.
- Registered charities in Ireland employ 189,000 people and have an estimated annual turnover of around €14.5bn.
- The Wheel (in association with Irish Rural Link) is the national coordinator of the COVID-19 Community Outreach programme, which is a vital component of the Government’s Community Call initiative rolled out in each local authority area.
ABOUT THE WHEEL
The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of charities, community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises. With over 1,750 members, it is the largest representative body for the charity, community, voluntary and social enterprise sector. Visit www.wheel.ie for more information. Follow us on Twitter.
[1] Eight NGOs working in the ageing sector in Ireland have formed The Alliance of Age Sector NGOs to address the key issues facing older people. These organisations are Active Retirement Ireland, Age Action, Age & Opportunity, ALONE, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, The Irish Hospice Foundation, the Irish Senior Citizen’s Parliament, and Third Age Foundation.
