PRESS RELEASE
Immediate release: 25 March 2021
Issued by The Wheel & NICVA
SHARED ISLAND DIALOGUE: CIVIL SOCIETY COOPERATION KEY TO ADDRESSING ALL-ISLAND CHALLENGES
The Wheel and NICVA, the representative bodies for the community and voluntary sectors in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, today called for greater collaboration between civil society organisations across the island. The call was made during an event in the Shared Island Dialogue series, which was launched by Taoiseach Micheál Martin as part of the Shared Island initiative to foster constructive and inclusive civic dialogue on the future of the island underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Speaking during the online event today, Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel said, “Community and voluntary organisations built connections and commonality of purpose across communities and traditions - it is in their DNA. These organisations are already working on both sides of the border to address shared challenges such as making a just transition to sustainable rural living, economic regeneration, developing safe and inclusive communities and building trust and a shared purpose across our island. The impact of this work can be amplified if civil society organisations north, south, east and west are encouraged and supported to collaborate more towards their shared goals.”
Seamus McAleavey, CEO of NICVA added that NICVA and The Wheel are building on their long-established relationship to increase collaboration within civil society with other sectors across the island of Ireland. “Voluntary and community organisations are all about public benefit. What they can do to enhance the life of our communities. If they didn’t exist, they’d be missed in sport, health, mental health and wellbeing, community development, and active community life to name a few areas. They touch the lives of the whole community and for the better. Anything we can do to improve that is a good thing,” said Seamus McAleavey.
Today’s Dialogue on ‘Civil society – catalyst for connection and understanding on a shared island’ is the third in the series and also included a contribution from the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD.
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Interviews available. Contact Gert Ackermann on 086 1769287 or email gert@wheel.ie
About The Wheel
The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of charities, community and voluntary organisation and social enterprises. With over 1,850 members, it is the largest representative body for the community, voluntary, and charity sector in the Republic of Ireland. Visit www.wheel.ie for more information.
About NICVA
NICVA, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, is a membership and representative umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.
With over a thousand members - ranging from household name charities to grassroots community groups - we lobby and campaign to advance the interests of the people and communities that our members support. We offer a wide range of practical services, products and support to our members to help them do what they do best - find innovative solutions for social challenges. See www.nicva.org for more information.
