Five productive years

Congratulations to Drumaroad Community Regeneration on reaching its fifth birthday. Judging by your website and newsletter, it has been a busy period.

More importantly, completion of the community leadership programme, the successful Claragh Bridge Vintage and Classic Show, the continuing campaign on the village hall and other activities show it has been a productive five years.

The foundations have been well laid for building the community and sports centre and bringing it into active use and for mobilising local people to support regeneration.

DCR is a member of NICVA and hopefully it has been a successful relationship and we have offered helpful advice on matters like your constitution, Grant Tracker (our funding database) and training in marketing websites.

NICVA is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland and your readers may be interested in some of its broader work.

Our key task is to achieve progressive social change by tackling disadvantage through voluntary action and community development. Our vision is of a healthy, vibrant, progressive voluntary and community sector which contributes to social cohesion, equality and justice.

NICVA pursues equality, equity, justice and diversity and opposes violence and discrimination of any sort.

One of NICVA's top priorities is the elimination of poverty and social exclusion. It is actively involved in the Make Poverty History campaign. Closer to home we have been leading a campaign for an effective policy on Targeting Social Need, now known as the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Strategy.

An important initiative over the last year has been the launch of the new portal for all people interested in voluntary and community activity. You can find out what is happening, from Drumaroad to Donemana - and even further afield - by logging on to www.communityni.org.

NICVA is in 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GB. 028 9087 7777; and our own website is www.nicva.org.