IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday 23 April 2019, 11.30am
THE WHEEL LAUNCHES COMMUNITY MATTERS CAMPAIGN,
FOCUSING ON LOCAL AND EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
Maxwell Photography will issue photos to picture desks by 1pm
The Wheel, supported by representatives from some of Ireland’s leading charities, today launched Community Matters, a national campaign aimed at the candidates contesting the local and European elections on 24 May.
The purpose of the Community Matters campaign is to encourage all local and European elected representatives to champion and support the work of charities, community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
Representatives from the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Wheelchair Society, Down Syndrome Ireland, SpunOut and Dóchas joined The Wheel’s CEO, Deirdre Garvey as they launched the campaign by unveiling a series of election posters in front of Dublin City Council’s Offices on Wood Quay.
Speaking at the launch, CEO Deirdre Garvey said, “As the local and European election campaigns launch over the coming weeks, we want to ensure the focus remains where it should be - on the people in the communities whom candidates seek to represent. The charity, community and voluntary sector is the backbone of every community across Ireland, supporting and advocating for the most vulnerable in society. We want to remind candidates of the vital work these organisations do and the richness they bring to life in Ireland. It is important for candidates to publicly commit their support for the nonprofit sector and all of the people they represent ahead of the election on 24 May.”
The Wheel is asking candidates to support Community Matters by signing a pledge at www.wheel.ie/elections and to publicly support Community Matters by using the #valuecommunity hashtag, so the people in our communities can prioritise the candidates that prioritise them.
/ENDS
CONTACT: Gert Ackermann, Communications Manager at The Wheel, M 086 176 9287 or email gert@wheel.ie
NOTE FOR EDITOR
A recent report by the Charities Regulator and Indecon Economic Consultants show that charities in Ireland employ 289,197 people. The scale of the economic contribution of charitable organisations is indicated by the fact that a total of €14.5 billion of income was reported by organisations on the Register of Charities. The evidence also indicates that there are over 300,000 people volunteering for registered charities and that the economic value of volunteering is around €649 million per year. For more information see www.charitiesregulator.ie/media/1489/social-and-economic-impact-report-2018.pdf
ABOUT THE WHEEL
The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of charities, community, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. We are a representative voice and a supportive resource that offers leadership, advice, training, influence and advocacy for the sector. Our membership includes over 1,500 of Ireland’s leading charities. Visit www.wheel.ie for more information.
