PRESS RELEASE (4 Sept.): The Wheel Welcomes €11m In Covid-19 Stability Funding For Charities

The Wheel, the national association of charities, has welcomed the announcement of a further €11m in funding for charities under the COVID-19 Stability Fund. The third tranche of the fund was announced today (4 September 2020) by the Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development and the Islands, Heather Humphreys TD and the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD.

Commenting on the announcement, Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel said, “We are very pleased to see these badly-needed funds being transferred to financially impacted charities today. It will go a long way to help hard-pressed organisations to continue their essential work. We would like to thank Ministers Humphreys and Donnely for prioritising this important financial lifeline.”

The Wheel is estimating a combined shortfall of €500m in charities’ income by the end of 2020. “While the funding announced today goes some way to closing the gap, the scheme was primarily designed to support the worst-hit charities to cope with urgent cash-flow and liquidity needs. A medium to long term strategy is now needed to protect key services,” said Deirdre Garvey.

This will help with short term cash flow issues caused by the COVID-19 crisis. This includes organisations from both phase 1 and 2 (unincorporated charities) of the fund and is on top of two previous tranches of the funding announced in June and July 2020 that benefitted 276 organisations amounting to €14.1m in funding.

-ENDS-

For more information or to arrange an interview contact Gert Ackermann on 086 176 9287.

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of charities, community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises. With over 1,750 members, it is the largest representative body for the charity, community, voluntary and social enterprise sector. Visit www.wheel.ie for more information. Follow us on Twitter.

[1] Eight NGOs working in the ageing sector in Ireland have formed The Alliance of Age Sector NGOs to address the key issues facing older people. These organisations are Active Retirement Ireland, Age Action, Age & Opportunity, ALONE, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, The Irish Hospice Foundation, the Irish Senior Citizen’s Parliament, and Third Age Foundation.