Immediate release: 25 November 2009
CHARITIES FORCED TO SUSPEND PROJECTS
WHILE CALLS FOR HELP RISE
The Wheel, a body representing 860 community and voluntary organisations, today warned that funding cuts and a drop in public donations are forcing charities to suspend important projects. The warning comes as many of Ireland’s leading charities report a sharp rise in the number of calls for help from the public.
A survey of 246 charities, conducted between 2 and 11 November, found that over half have either suspended or delayed projects in the past six months because of financial constraints. The study, which was commissioned by The Wheel to measure the impact of the recession on community and voluntary organisations, also found that 74.9% of charities have seen their incomes drop since June of this year.
While 35% reported a decline in public donations, the biggest threat to charities’ finances came from cuts in Government funding. Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive of The Wheel, said Irish charities rely heavily on statutory funding: “Over 60% of charities depend on Government funding as their primary source of income. Organisations are still reeling from the funding cuts introduced in the Supplementary Budget in April, and they are now bracing themselves for even deeper cuts in the forthcoming Budget.”
Children’s charity Barnados recently launched a major public appeal for support to prevent the closure of services across Ireland. The charity is projecting a 20% shortfall in voluntary funds in 2009 with a further substantial gap predicted for 2010.
At the same time there has been a sharp rise in the number of calls for help from the public: the Society of St. Vincent de Paul this week reported a 30% rise in the number of calls for help it is receiving in some areas, and the ISPCC said it is experiencing a sharp rise in the number of calls being handled by the Childline service.
Ms Garvey added that unlike other sectors of the economy, the community and voluntary sector experiences an increased demand for services during a recession: “After the substantial support given to other parts of the economy, Government think carefully about cutting funds to organisations that are struggling to deal with rising demand,” she said.
Ms Garvey said charities play an indispensable role in plugging the gaps in Ireland’s welfare system by providing essential services like housing, support and care for people with disabilities, childcare and protection for the vulnerable and excluded. “If charities are forced to suspend these projects, the most vulnerable in society will have nowhere else to turn,” said Ms Garvey.
NOTE TO EDITOR:
Deirdre Garvey, CEO of 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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