Martin McGuinness meets sector representatives

Fiona
1 July 2009 - 2:01pm
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Tagged as:

• deputy First Minister
• NICVA
• recession
• VCS
• voluntary and community sector
• Policy

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness had a discussion with voluntary and community sector representatives.

The meeting is part of the First and deputy First Ministers' initiative to identify and tackle, where possible, the negative impact of the recession on the wider community. Bob Stronge, Chair of NICVA, welcomed the deputy First Minister and commended the efforts of the Minister and First Minister Peter Robinson in establishing their Forum on the economy so that they could take the advice of a wide range of interests across the social partners.Seamus McAleavey, Chief Executive of NICVA, gave the Minister a short presentation on how the recession is impacting on the voluntary and community sector. Demand is increasing on services, particularly advice services, housing related issues, mental health and unemployment. Demand is likely to climb in direct proportion to growth in the recession itself.

Income is also falling with 46% of organisations reporting reduced income. This is expected to become a much greater problem during this financial year as the economic downturn hits the voluntary sector around a year after the private sector.

NICVA has asked the Minister to consider how the NI Executive can assist voluntary and community organisations to deal strategically with these threats. Income is likely to fall across most sources including public donations, government and independent charitable trusts. Organisations are in need of help to build their resilience to the threat.

Martin McGuinness had a wide-ranging discussion with the representatives present saying tackling the fall out from the recession was the foremost thing in the minds of First Minister Peter Robinson and himself. They were seeking broad advice, informing themselves about a very wide range of issues and intended that the NI Executive would be strategic and decisive in confronting the threat to people's lives and livelihoods. The deputy First Minister recognised the "tremendous contribution that the voluntary and community sector makes to society."

The deputy First Minister said that the Executive would support proposals brought forward by DSD Minister Margaret Ritchie on a framework for supporting the voluntary and community sector as advocates for the most disadvantaged people in society as well as deliverers of public services.

He added that the Executive was focused on economic recovery as well as mitigating against the worst impacts of the recession and the expertise of voluntary and community organisations will have a strong role to play in both.

The voluntary and community sector representatives meeting the Minister were: Bob Stronge Advice NI (also Chair of NICVA); Wendy Osborne, Volunteer Development Agency; Michael Briggs, East Belfast Community Development Forum; Gerry McConville, Falls Community Council; Colin Devine, North West Community Network; Ian Walters, Action Mental Health; Margaret Ward, Women's Resource & Development Agency; Paddy Kelly, Children's Law Centre; Carol O'Bryan, Simon Community; Maureen Piggot, Mencap; Michael Hughes, Rural Community Network; Marie Cavanagh, Gingerbread NI; John McMullan, Bryson Charitable Group; Karen Gallagher, Concern Worldwide (UK) and Seamus McAleavey, NICVA.