Significant policy developments are taking place which will have a profound effect on community development projects and local community initiatives concerned with addressing poverty, social exclusion and inequality, including accommodation and housing regeneration, drugs, poverty, racism and other social issues.

The recommendations in the final report of the Steering Group for the Alignment of Local Government and Local Development, which will shortly be released, is likely to bring about significant changes in the responsibility for and delivery of local development and community development actions at local level. Based on indications in the Interim Report of the Steering Group it is likely that local authorities will have a strengthened oversight role, thus building on the endorsement process and in line with the streamlining of delivery structures carried out under cohesion which brought about the integration of many Community Development Projects.

In addition, a report by the Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit of the Department of Public Expenditure proposes a reduction of the number of groups in the community and voluntary sector and the introduction of a changed regime of government funding.

The published reports and the CWC Briefs are available on the CWC website, www.cwc.ie

These developments, if carried through, are likely to have a significant impact on a community sector that has been already severely affected by the imposition of reductions and budget cuts over the past number of years.

CWC is undertaking a series of information and consultation meetings with community workers and activists at local level (for a list of dates and venues confirmed to date please click here) with a view to the:

• Provision of information, support and solidarity to community workers and projects on the ground;
• Assess the local experience and local concerns;
• Creation of an evidence base which supports the maintenance of critical and autonomous community work and a critique of developments which may undermine the sector and community work;
• Support community workers to actively and critically engage with developments and build our power to respond.

These meetings provide an opportunity for community workers and community groups operating at local level to make themselves aware of these matters, to consider the implications for their work and their projects and be part of an initiative to influence national community development policy.

To register you interest please email info@cwc.ie

To register your interest please email info@cwc.ie

The April 2012 issue is now available.  To download a copy please click here

• Plan to change the funding relationship between state and community and voluntary sector
• Downsizing the Community and Voluntary Sector –ICTU Report
• Reforming grant-giving in public administration.
• Speak out against Racism
• Interview with Angela Holohan – CWC’s longest serving Staff member who recently retired.
• The Sheehy Skeffington Human Rights School
• A Cooperative and Social/Community Enterprises Forum
• John O’ Connell Award Ceremony 2012.
• Update on UN developments – Anastasia Crickley.

Saturday April 28^th Liberty Hall

A one day school providing an opportunity to discuss human rights approaches to achieve the fundamental freedoms and entitlements that contribute to the development of a Good Society

• Senator Ivana Bacik 
• Law Lecturer/Barrister Donncha O’Connell
• Community Activist John Bissett
• Historian Mary Cullen
• Economist Michael Taft       
• Human Rights Activist Aideen Gilmore

www.sheehyskeffingtonschool.org

(booking through website)

Rationalising Multiple Sources of Funding to Not-for-Profit Sector 

• The  funding model whereby each agency receives part-funding from different State agencies, for different or overlapping objectives, serves neither efficiency nor effectiveness
• The number of State-to-agency transactions should be reduced, by rationalizing both the number of bodies and the number of State interlocutors
  • Reduce the number of transactions between the state and the “third sector” this means less organisations supported and less organisations providing the supports. Change will be difficult and will encounter resistance
• In this context, one State body should be responsible for ‘core’ funding of each agency, and all State supports for the agency should be channeled through the one State body
• This consolidated funding  model will allow for greater  clarity and accountability for results
• Expenditure consolidation, which will be a feature of the period 2012-2015,should be coupled with reform of this nature in order to preserve services and mitigate impacts on vulnerable groups insofar as possible. 

To download the CWC Discussion Document  please click here

To download the report please click here

To download the nterim report please click here

To download the CWC response please click here