Voluntary and community sector paper unveiled

A Government appointed Task Force set up earlier this year to examine future resourcing of the voluntary and community sector, today published a Position Paper 'Pathways for Change', to invite comment on issues fundamental to the future of the sector.

Community and voluntary groups across Northern Ireland, statutory agencies, funders to the voluntary and community sector and other interested parties are to have a say on how the sector can contribute to the well-being of the Northern Ireland community.

Speaking at the launch of the paper, the Task Force Chairperson John McGrath said: "The voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland has an established track record of tackling disadvantage and social need, particularly during the recent years of violence and civil conflict.

"However, there are real anxieties and concerns across the sector about the future of services, projects, organisations and jobs. Short-term funding programmes delivered through grants or contracts, many providing support for only one year, has made it difficult for organisations to plan properly and to develop work of a high quality.

"There are also concerns about less money being available from 2006, partly due to the ending or restructuring of EU funding."

The Task Force is set to consider a number of themes fundamental to the future of the voluntary and community sector. These include:

• how Government funds the voluntary and community sector and how the sector could be supported to engage more in the delivery of public services
• how funders can ensure that public funding to the sector is administered more efficiently and effectively
• relationships between Government and the voluntary and community sector, and
• how organisations within the sector that provide support and services for voluntary and community organisations should be organised and resourced.

The Task Force will also explore how a new model of social investment could inform how Government could fund the voluntary and community sector in the future.

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