“There is a major crisis going on with community work in this country and it feels as if we are powerless in the whole process.” This is the stark warning issued by Maria McHale, spokesperson for Mayo Community Platform, when considering the threats to the community sector in Mayo.
The community sector in Mayo works to try to combat disadvantage and believes that the empowerment of groups is key to challenging the inequality that exists in society. Through community development, local groups reflect on the unique needs in their area and work to respond accordingly. This is why there is a youth café in Westport, a family support service in Kiltimagh, and a nationally acclaimed children’s arts festival in Louisburgh. These are just some examples of projects that the community sector has carried out in a low-key, cost-effective, manner in Mayo.
However this sector is under threat. Local management committees are increasingly being told what they should do, rather than trusting in the expertise of local communities to respond to their own needs. Savage cuts have been made across the community sector with a promise that there are more on the way. The Community Development Programme is currently under threat as Government is working towards abolishing local management committees and placing them under local partnership companies. The family resource centres fought a national campaign last year that secured their funding for 2010; however, they have had their support agencies reduced nationally from seven to two. Mayo Intercultural Action has seen its funding entirely cut and is surviving on volunteer effort, fundraising, and contributions. “As unemployment rises and social problems increase, community projects, with voluntary local management committees, are needed now more than ever. In challenging times, they should be expanded rather than cut back so that the most vulnerable in our communities are supported and protected,” said Ms McHale.
Mayo Community Platform is a community network, representing community development projects, family resource centres, Mayo Women’s Support Services, Mayo Intercultural Action, Mayo Travellers Support Group, and South West Mayo Development Company.
