1. The crisis in community health and social services has left thousands of vulnerable children and adults without access to critical services. One-quarter of acute hospital services and approximately two-thirds of services to people with disabilities are delivered by voluntary organisations funded by the state. Despite their indispensable role, however, community and voluntary service providers are grappling with a pay and staffing crisis that is blocking access to and affecting the quality of vital services. This crisis stems from the stark pay gap between staff working in these organisations and those in the civil service who perform similar, often identical, roles. Current funding levels provide for salaries that will be, on average, 12% lower than civil-service salaries by October of this year. Industrial action may be imminent, which will cause further disruption.
2. A call for reform of the government’s funding model for voluntary health and social care providers
3. The geopolitical events and economic pressures have driven many charities to the financial brink
4. The impact of unstainable insurance costs on community and voluntary groups
5. The need to increase the cap on the VAT compensation scheme for charities.

• David Carroll from Depaul
  Pauline McKeown, Coolmine Therapradic Community
• Fiona Coyle from Mental Health Reform
• Ivan Cooper, The Wheel