Community and voluntary organisations based in the west will have an opportunity to discuss the potential impact of the McCarthy report on their work, at an upcoming event in Claremorris. The event is being organised by the Irish National Community and Voluntary Forum, (INCVF ). The INCVF is the representative body for 22,000 community and voluntary organisations throughout Ireland.
According to Tom McGettrick, the chairperson of the INCVF, the McCarthy report presents huge challenges to community and voluntary organisations across the west of Ireland. “Community and voluntary organisations provide a hugely valuable service to Irish life, and the McCarthy report totally fails to put a value on these activities. There are a huge number of programmes set for closure or severe cuts in the ‘An Bord Snip Nua’ report. These include community development projects, community employment schemes, family resource centres, RAPID and Clár programmes. These cuts — coupled with the closure, for example, of a primary school or Garda station in a community — would take away a much-needed lifeline, particularly for those suffering from isolation.”
At the event in Claremorris, representatives of community and voluntary groups will have the opportunity to discuss the McCarthy report, and their hopes and fears for the future.
The event will take place from 7pm in The McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, on Tuesday November 3. Apart from discussing the McCarthy report, attendees will receive information about community and voluntary insurance, which is provided by BHP Insurance, and on best practice guidelines for running community and voluntary organisations. It will also be an opportunity for volunteers to network with each other. If you are involved in a community or voluntary organisation and would like to attend, contact Ray O’Donoghue, who is organising the event. Mr O’Donoghue can be contacted on 087 279 8122, or by email at [email protected].
