Immediate release: 14 May 2015, 9am
Issued by The Wheel
DEMAND ON CHARITIES INCREASING DESPITE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Conference hears 30% of charities have cut or suspended services
Photos will be issued by Paul Sherwood at 1pm.
Over two thirds (72%) of charities have reported increasing demand for their services despite the economic recovery, according to a new survey of 262 charities conducted by The Wheel, Ireland’s representative and support organisation for charities. The survey that was conducted earlier this month also found that 33% of charities have had to cut back or suspend services in the past year due to a lack of funding, while over 42% have reported a drop in their income over the same period.
Responding to the challenging environment facing the community and voluntary sector, Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive Officer of The Wheel, today called on Government to prioritise investment in social provision and social infrastructure in Budget 2016.
Speaking at The Wheel’s national conference for the charity sector at Croke Park, Ms. Garvey said: “In recent budgets Government has rightly focused on achieving sustainability in our public finances, but we must acknowledge that this has come at an enormous cost to Ireland’s social infrastructure. We can now see clear evidence that even though the economy has been growing for over a year, the services that people rely on, continues to be cut. We are calling on Government today to prioritise the restoration of funding for services in Budget 2016. We are also calling on Government to ensure that future funding models continue to support the community and voluntary sector in its work of sustaining communities in Ireland,” said Ms Garvey.
Over 150 charities from across Ireland attended the conference, hosted by The Wheel and sponsored by Ulster Bank. Doug Munro, Head of Deposits, Products and Propositions at Ulster Bank said: "We are delighted to be the principle sponsor of this event. Through our partnership with The Wheel we are demonstrating our commitment to valuing and supporting charities to grow. At Ulster Bank, we are happy to step forward, to help build lasting legacy in our communities and deliver measurable social impact. We believe that events like these empower community and voluntary organisations to make the greatest possible impact in the communities and in the lives of the people they serve,” said Mr Munro.
See www.wheel.ie/Conference2015
//ENDS
Deirdre Garvey is available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on Tel: 086 176 9287 or email gert@wheel.ie
Notes for Editor
Photos will be issued by Paul Sherwood at 1pm.
About the survey:
• The Wheel conducted the online survey between 16 April and 11 May 2015
• 262 charities completed in the survey.
About The Wheel
The Wheel is a national organisation that represents and supports community, voluntary and charitable organisations in Ireland. Founded in 1999, we currently have over 1,100 members across Ireland, reflecting the enormous scope and scale of this vibrant and diverse sector. See www.wheel.ie
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