Immediate release: 6 November 2009
MAJORITY BELIEVE CHARITIES SHOULD
CAMPAIGN FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
The majority of the public believe that charities should campaign to bring about social change, according to a new survey. When asked whether campaigning or providing services are the most effective way for a charity to support people in need, 45% of the public said that both are equally important, while 12% felt that campaigning was more important.
The survey of 1,000 people in the Republic aged over 16 was conducted by NFP Synergy between 28 July and 7 September last on behalf The Wheel, a support and representative organisations for charities in Ireland.
The findings support a growing body of evidence that charities now play an important role in shaping public opinion. Data released by The Wheel reveals that 68% of the public now believe that charities influence their personal values, compared to the church (38%) and the government (8%). Only the family has a greater influence on people’s values.
“Charities are no longer just engaged in providing services to those in need, they have become agents of social change,“ said Ivan Cooper, Director of Advocacy at The Wheel.
Mr Cooper added that a large part of The Wheel’s activities now revolve around communicating with Government on behalf of community and voluntary organisations. “The Wheel and the 16 other members of the Community and Voluntary Pillar of the social partnership process - which includes many leading charities - recently met face-to-face with the Taoiseach to discuss our concerns about the forthcoming budget. The survey proves that there is a strong level of support among the public for this type action,” he said.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Ivan Cooper, Director of Advocacy at The Wheel The Wheel is available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on mobile: 086 176 9287, or email: gert@wheel.ie
ABOUT THE WHEEL:
The Wheel is a national support and representative body for community, voluntary and charitable organisations. We provide a wide range of information and support services, advice and training to individuals and organisations involved in community and voluntary activity. We are also a representative organisation promoting both our members’ and the wider sector’s interests. www.wheel.ie
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