Community Development

OVERVIEW

There are 990 organisations in the voluntary and community sector which are involved in community development activities. Total income for 2003/04 is estimated to be £45.88 million.

Nine out of ten organisations (91.3%) in the community development sector are stand alone organisations ie not affiliated to or part of a wider organisational structure.

A total of 87% of all organisations in the community development sector have an income of less than £100,000 per annum.

There are approximately 3,421 paid employees working in the community development sector with a further 11,348 volunteers directly involved on a formal basis with these organisations (management committees etc).

ROLE

Community development in Northern Ireland is a wide and diverse process that embraces community work, community service and community action. Community development encompasses the traditional idea of 'communities of locality' and communities with shared experiences or common interests, with an emphasis on the disadvantaged and powerless. These organisations have a long history in Northern Ireland and their drive to challenge sectarianism, division, poverty and unequal distribution of resources is well recognised.

These organisations operate in an increasingly competitive funding environment where obtaining funding for community development is becoming more difficult. However the recent Community Investment Fund announced in Positive Steps (DSD, 2005) is recognition that this sector needs to be adequately resourced on a stable basis.

FUNDING

Government in all its forms is the single largest funder of organisations in the community development sector, with 24.4% of the sector's income emanating from either direct grants or the sales of goods and services. Government spends £11.2 million on the activities of the community development sector. On examining the figures a little closer, they reveal that central government departments spent £5.93 million (52.9% of all government funding) in 2003/04. Statutory agencies and non departmental public bodies spent £1.29 million with district councils contributing a further £3.54 million (31.7%).

Income derived from charitable trusts also forms a significant proportion of this sector's income (£10.87 million). This represents 17.9% of all the funds distributed by charitable trusts to the entire voluntary and community sector.

Peace II and the Lottery are also significant funders, accounting for 21.2% and 19.2% of the community development sector's total income. Just over a quarter of all the funds distributed by the Lottery go to this sector.

PEOPLE

The community development sector employs 3,421 paid individuals. This figure represents 11.8% of the total sector's workforce (one out every ten employees in the voluntary and community sector work in the community development sector).

There are 11,348 volunteers, which is approximately 15% of the total number of volunteers operating in the voluntary and community sector.

ORDER

Price: State of the Sector IV costs £10 (plus 85p p&p). To order a copy contact Lynn Anderson 028 9087 7777

COMMENTS

Please give your opinion on this research by using the Have your Say box at the end of this article, or contact:

Gordon McCullough
028 9087 7777